The Convergence Zone: Where Entrepreneurs and Opportunity Meet
The MicaPlex, the cornerstone building of the Research Park at Embry-Riddle in Daytona Beach, Florida, presents a unique collaborative opportunity for business and the university community to develop, refine and bring new products and technological services to market.
Start-up companies have a tremendous advantage when there is a network of support to shepherd them through the stages of product/service development toward market readiness.
As an incubator space, the facilities and occupants of the MicaPlex will provide such a network which extends to the University, not only at the Daytona Beach Campus but to resources on the Prescott, Arizona, campus and the extensive network that is the Worldwide Campus.
Who Occupies the MicaPlex?
- Tenant Partners – Technology-focused companies will benefit from the resources and facilities within the Embry-Riddle Research Park and the university.
- Incubator Companies – Our incubator companies are startup and early stage companies that are at the research and development-intensive phase of their growth.
- University Faculty – University research is guided by faculty who possess the experience and intellectual acumen to provide subject matter expertise for technology-focused companies.
- Undergraduate, Graduate and Doctoral Students – Students at all degree levels and within all academic disciplines provide an educated and energetic labor force for research, development and production.
Rare are the opportunities to provide leadership to those who need experience and proven success. As a Nexus Partner of the John Mica Engineering and Aerospace Innovation Complex at Embry‑Riddle Research Park, your company will be positioned to influence, contribute and access the burgeoning businesses that will bring new tech enterprises to market. Your partnership with the University will ensure that the start-up companies are firmly on track toward success. Your company’s investment will reap immeasurable rewards, both financial and intangible rewards. You’ll gain access to new technologies in their seminal stages of development. You’ll bring your expertise and contribute to solutions for the challenges the start-ups will encounter. Invest in tomorrow with Embry‑Riddle and emerging enterprises headed toward profit and prosperity.
Nexus Partners will become part of the University community and will enjoy these advantages:
- Embry-Riddle credentials for four individuals
- Prominent logo within MicaPlex Building
- Logo placed on Clyde Morris Boulevard signage
- Sign in MicaPlex lobby
- Logo/Name on ERAU website with link to your organization’s website
- Invitation to all MicaPlex Speaker Series lectures and events
- Invitation to all major ERAU events
- Invitation to Industry Advisory Board dinners
- Access to research librarians
- Privilege to reserve MicaPlex conference rooms
- Opportunity to contract for Henderson’s Duva Banquet Hall and Lobby for one major event per year
- Shared, collaborative office environment within the MicaPlex
- Priority reservation for Career Expo booth and/or Career Services networking events
Nexus Partners
Duva Enterprises is a family-owned, highly successful enterprise crossing many boundaries of the business world to support startups and entrepreneurial endeavors.
Also known as the “World Center of Racing,” is a state-of-the-art motorsports facility boasting the most diverse schedule of racing on the globe, including “The Great American Race,” The DAYTONA 500.
The is a 501(c)(6) not-for-profit organization with the sole mission to stimulate new job creation and capital investment in Volusia County.
is the world’s largest aerospace company and leading provider of commercial airplanes, defense, space and security systems, and global services.
To explore the possibilities of becoming a Nexus Partner in the John Mica Engineering and Aerospace Innovation Complex at Embry‑Riddle Research Park, please contact:
Rodney Cruise
Senior Vice President for Administration and Planning
386-226-4928
micaplex@erau.edu
Ensure your start-up is on pace for success by aligning with the resources and talent at ˛ÝÝ®ĘÓƵ, adjacent to the Research Park. Tenants will have the opportunity to design the space for their operation within the MicaPlex, use the facilities on the University campus and employ students from all academic fields to bring their product or service to market.
Tenant Partners will become part of the University community and will enjoy these advantages:
- Embry-Riddle credentials for staff
- Your company logo placed on Clyde Morris Boulevard signage
- Your logo placed on office suite
- Sign in lobby
- Invitation to all MicaPlex Speaker Series lectures and events
- Invitation to Industry Advisory Board dinners
- Access to research librarians
- Your company’s name and logo on the MicaPlex website with a link to your company’s website
- Privileges to reserve MicaPlex conference rooms
Current Tenant Partners
Embry-Riddle Research Park will house a wide range of lab equipment and will allow access to those who can operate it with competence and efficiency.
Showcase Equipment
- Anechoic Chamber
- Ground Communications Systems for Satellite Tracking
- VICON Motion Capture System
Research Park Laboratories
- Advanced Dynamic and Control Lab
- Astrodynamics and Spacecraft Lab
- Center for Aerospace Resilient Systems
- Circuits, Sensor and Instrumentation Lab
- Composites Research Laboratory
- Materials Research Laboratory
- Next Generation ERAU Advanced Research (NEAR) Lab
- Robotics and Autonomous Systems Lab
- Space Technology Lab
- Structures Research Laboratory
The incubator supports startup and early-stage companies that are at the research and development-intensive phase of their growth process. The companies should be in industries that are an area of focus at Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University.
Office space is available for incubator clients on a rolling basis as companies graduate. Startups initially not requiring office space have the option of becoming an affiliate member of the incubator, enabling access to a subset of resources offered to resident clients.
- Technology and Industry Application: In industries that are an area of focus at Embry-Riddle
- Relationship to Embry-Riddle: Commercialization license or research agreements, faculty or student founders, needing use of labs and facilities, and/or wanting access to ERAU faculty and students
- Market Opportunity: A significant, technology-based target market size and growth potential
- Capitalization: Current and anticipated resources needed to get to market
- Management team: Full-time, dedicated effort and coachable
- Company legal structure and intellectual property portfolio status
- Job Creation: Projected growth
- Infrastructure: furnished office space with dedicated phone and IT services
- Labs within the MicaPlex
- University resources
- Conference and meeting rooms
- Business/mail box address
- Electronic journal collection and research librarians
- Business service providers network
- Fitness Center and Pool
- Partners and Programming
- Incubator Partners: Expertise in legal, accounting, IT and venture capital investing, offering some levels of pro bono services to incubator clients
- Education and Training: Tailored to each client and may include assistance in customer discovery, market research and intellectual property, developing business models and plans, designing timelines and milestones for R&D, investor pitch coaching, fundraising and business growth, and human resource management
- Events: Founder talks, CEO forums, investor panel discussions, demo days, hackathons and extensive networking opportunities
Incubator client goals and milestones will be reviewed at least every six months, and companies are ready to graduate when they are generating revenues through product sales or other forms of commercialization, have raised significant investments, expanded their workforce or need substantially more space.
Current Incubator Companies
Research News
Contact Us
Stephanie Miller, Ph.D., M.B.AExecutive Director, Technology Transfer and Research Park Initiatives
Legal Department