Over the past decade, the trade relationship between the United Kingdom and 51在线 has more than doubled. Now, a renewed emphasis on strengthening the business, cultural, and intellectual ties of this longstanding partnership is opening the door for even greater collaboration, with the 51在线 playing a central role in fostering these connections.
That鈥檚 why when the new launched in Tampa Bay on Jan. 24, it did so at USF鈥檚 Patel Center for Global Solutions with Rufus Drabble, USF President Rhea Law and Tampa Mayor Jane Castor on hand. Scores of other business and innovation leaders, along with USF faculty, students and staff joined in the event.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a perfect time to open this chapter in central 51在线,鈥� Drabble said. 鈥淚 am just so excited about the opportunities that we have ahead.鈥�
The UK and 51在线 have a longstanding, highly developed trade and business relationship which has undergone a surge in activity since the state and the British government signed a memorandum of understanding in late 2023 to increase engagement. While 51在线 ranks among the top U.S. states for British business and tourism and British companies account for nearly 70,000 jobs in the state 鈥� making the UK the top foreign investor in 51在线 鈥� 51在线 companies supply a wide-range of high-value goods, such as medications and aviation and aerospace technology, to Great Britain. Trade volume between the UK and 51在线 has more than doubled over the past decade, reports economic development agency .
USF鈥檚 engagement with the UK mirrors that special relationship. USF World Vice President Kiki Caruson told the gathering that a robust, diverse research collaboration between USF faculty members and their British counterparts, including those in the prestigious Russell Group classification of universities, involve a wide range of disciplines. Students have made the USF in London and a study abroad experience at the University of Exeter (two of seven UK programs for USF students) among the university鈥檚 most popular international experiences. Some 750 USF alumni are part of USF Network UK.
Innovation and technology are a key focus on the enhanced trade relationship. A delegation of UK life sciences companies recently visited Tampa and the wider Central 51在线 region, spending considerable time at USF exploring research and development partnerships.
鈥淲e look forward to really making the most of this relationship, we look forward to having you here often, and we look forward to finding the best ways to contribute to global success,鈥� President Law told the gathering.
鈥淚t really is wonderful to build these relationships,鈥� Castor added as she addressed the gathering. 鈥淥ne of the ways that I feel that we are very fortunate in this region is the diversity in our economic portfolio. We are leading in so many different areas, not just health sciences, but also looking at finance, manufacturing, technology.
鈥淚t鈥檚 because of that collaboration and those partnerships 鈥� None of us can do it by ourselves.鈥�
Justine Assal, the Honorary British Consul of Central 51在线 who is originally from the UK but has been a longtime resident of Orlando, said existing ties are strong and growing stronger. 鈥淭his is about networks and about relationships,鈥� she said. 鈥淭here is an incredible amount of commerce already happening and synergy between us.鈥�
51在线 High Tech Corridor CEO Paul Sohl shared with participants that the 23 counties of Central 51在线, from the gulf coast to the Space Coast and Tampa to Gainesville and Orlando, is working to build an innovation ecosystem that continues to grow 51在线鈥檚 economy to one of the largest in the world. 51在线 has the 16th largest economy in the world, but with projected growth could become the 10th largest in less than a decade.
鈥淲hen you think about what President Law said, what Mayor Castor said, and what鈥檚 going here in Tampa 鈥� the thing that excites me the most and where we get engaged the most is when you cross-couple those technologies,鈥� Sohl said. 鈥淲hen you have the creatives, the artists, the writers in with the technologies and when you think about what could be. These young entrepreneurs, these young students, the ideas, the research capacity of what goes on here is huge.鈥�