Florida Tech announced a new entry into the innovation economy and a new executive director to lead the charge. Vertex, Florida Tech’s applied innovation hub, will bring industry, higher education, local and state governments, investors, community members, etc., together to advance transformative partnerships, connecting them with applied engineering technologies, customized workforce development programs, and the talents and expertise of the Florida Tech community.
Vertex will be headed by Samantha Miles, an experienced strategic leader whose ability to connect visions and voices has produced significant global educational and business successes.
Born in Melbourne Beach and with bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Florida universities, Miles has 14 years of international/domestic professional experience in leading the design and execution of strategic partnerships across the higher education landscape.
Established in the same Palm Bay space as the university’s Center for Advanced Manufacturing and Innovative Design (CAMID), Vertex was unveiled following months of engagement with founders, CEOs, business leaders, and innovation experts, including several Florida Tech alumni.
Vertex is already making an impact, hosting clients in its business-in-residence program and developing new collaboration pathways and industry-focused initiatives.
This approach (developing an impactful strategy from multiple inputs) is one that Miles crafted at her most recent job as a strategic advisor, trainer, and consultant for Knowledge E, a Dubai-based consultancy serving over 100 clients in research and education.
One of her successes is a two-year effort to reshape medical education in Egypt by reforming the nationwide curriculum at dozens of medical schools. And working with Egypt’s minister of higher education and a coterie of other international stakeholders, Miles had to unite various plan elements to create a result that had impact and reach.
Before Knowledge E, Miles worked in leadership roles with the SP Jain School of Global Management in Dubai and the University of Southern Queensland in Springfield, Australia. She has also worked at Florida Atlantic University and the Charlotte County Family YMCA.
CAMID will continue providing advanced manufacturing and prototyping services under the Vertex umbrella. It will be joined by the Florida Tech Research Institute, the university’s ASCEND program, and promising new tenants. With its heritage and enterprising spirit, the Space Coast of east-central Florida is the right place for Vertex to flourish.
KEY QUOTES:
“She operates with grand vision but still manages the details. She realizes the value and impact of the nexus between education and industry, and she has a relentless, high-energy approach and community-focused outlook that will ensure success while empowering our critical stakeholders.”
– President John Nicklow
“Soon, we’ll launch a ‘super user’ offering that provides access to our most advanced technology, along with a signature business accelerator program. We’re also designing new, customized workforce training and expanding our R&D efforts for applied innovation. More details to come!”
“It was when I got a taste of how much I really do enjoy bringing together the different folks from academia, from government, from industry. And I really like being in those rooms where there are lots of big ideas, lots of big thoughts, and with people who have the intention and the ability to make change and to get things done.”
– Samantha Miles
“Vertex is what’s possible when we combine Florida Tech’s excellence with our region’s entrepreneurial spirit. It is positioned to be a real catalyst for innovation in our community, and having been part of these early discussions, I can tell you that the potential here is tremendous. We’re not just creating a facility; we’re building an ecosystem for growth and opportunity.”
– Ryan Bailey, innovation director at Groundswell Startups and a three-time Florida Tech graduate
“This region is uniquely positioned and ready for Vertex’s mission with its rich industrial ecosystem and skilled workforce. Vertex is more than an innovation hub—it is a catalyst for growth on the Space Coast.”
– Hamid Rassoul, Florida Tech’s chief research officer
