Dozens of industry experts and medical technology entrepreneurs met last week at Osceola County’s NeoCity campus to learn about the broad future of technology in the medical industry. The seminar was organized through NeoCity’s partner Plug and Play, a global innovation platform that supports tech startups.
Topics included advances in technical and digital transformation in the medical industry, pharma and biotechnology, medical devices, and medical imaging and diagnostics. Specific topics ranged widely from electronic medical record standardization to wearable medical devices that can send alerts to providers or summon emergency services, to customization of individual treatment for medical conditions, including cancer.
Florida has risen quickly over the last few years to become the second-largest medical device manufacturer in the U.S., with over $6 billion in revenue reported in 2024. The combination of the large amount of medical technology activity in the state, along with Florida’s world-leading commercial space industry, led to discussions on one of the standout areas of biotech research currently taking place-studies of tissue samples monitored by the microchips (biochips) onboard the International Space Station.
“Space, or more accurately, the lack of gravity, accelerates processes in the human body. We can see study results in a much shorter amount of time compared to a lab here on Earth,” said Dr. Siobhan Malany, an Associate Professor at the University of Florida’s College of Pharmacy, who is working at the forefront of developing lab-on-chip technologies for research in the Low Earth Orbit of space. Another point that was stressed was how the absence of gravity “frees” researchers to construct and test materials on the microscale that would not be possible on Earth. Medicines and other biotech applications derived from this research would then be manufactured in the zero gravity of space and returned to Earth. Of course, much of the current bioresearch now conducted in space is focused on deep space exploration.
“Probably the first ‘human’ presence on Mars will actually be biochips studying the effects on humans of extended space travel,” said Dr. Malany.
The evening prior to the MedTech+Microchips event, NeoCity was featured during a global webinar presented by Select Florida. The webinar brought together public and private tech leaders from Florida, South Korea, and Taiwan to spotlight economic initiatives, strengths, and emerging opportunities in the tech industries across Florida. Presentations were made by NeoCity partner imec, and Assistant County Manager Amanda Clavijo outlined the opportunities and resources available at NeoCity, including pad-ready building sites and ample utility capacity. She also highlighted Valencia College’s Semiconductor Cleanroom Operator training program, available to Osceola County high school students under a dual enrollment program, assuring a trained tech workforce is available in the community, an important consideration in attracting tech development and investment.
In January 2026, NeoCity will be breaking ground on a 30,000 square foot multi-use lab space building, funded by a $17.5 million grant from the state of Florida announced in late 2023. When complete, the lab will be the fifth building constructed so far on the NeoCity property.
For more information on NeoCity, see https://bit.ly/4nWSGDH.
