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WHERE “NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE” GETS DONE EVERY DAY
Orlando is the leading region in the U.S. building the foundation of the Metaverse. Its expertise in creating immersive, technologically advanced experiences has long placed Orlando as the MetaCenter™ of new world adventure. The metaverse affects the way we interact with each other, how we approach work, and how we’re entertained. From AR/VR, gaming and fintech to IoT, modeling, simulation and AI, Orlando’s innovation, entrepreneurs, companies, and talent pioneer the key enabling technologies of the metaverse and the evolution of the global digital economy.

“Orlando’s vast experience in interactive entertainment and modeling, simulation and training coupled with the rise of regional expertise in AR/VR, AI, IOT, and more, makes the region uniquely positioned for future growth…”
– Daryl Holt
Vice President and General Manager, EA Tiburon, EA SPORTS Austin and EA SPORTS Madrid
Decades of Pioneering Key Metaverse TechnologieS
ORLANDO METACENTER™
The metaverse is being created in Orlando…We call it The MetaCenter™
The density of talent, investment, industry, and creativity in the areas of artificial intelligence, virtual and augmented reality, IoT technology, gaming, 3D, and modeling and simulation makes Orlando ground zero for Metaverse development – a fact that is Unbelievably Real.
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Home to the largest concentration of VR/AR faculty and researchers from all U.S. universities
University of Central Florida, 2022
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$6B+ Annual Simulation-related Contracts in the Region
National Center for Simulation, 2022
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UCF Game Design Program Ranked No. 1 in the World
Princeton Review, 2020-2022
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No. 1 Fastest-growing City for Entrepreneurs
Linkedin News, 2021

“Orlando is not only a hub for business and technology, but a merging intersection of many industries including defense, space and entertainment – an obvious choice for our second office…”
– John Riccitiello
CEO, Unity
What is the
METAVERSE
Massive shared worlds driven by virtual products and experiences that are highly immersive, interactive and interoperable.

“From simulation and modeling to game development, world building, and even Imagineering, Orlando houses not only the talent, but also the business-friendly climate incentives that are needed to develop the metaverse…”
– Cathy Hackl
Godmother of the Metaverse, Chief Metaverse Officer, Journey
Orlando Metacenter™ industries
AR/VR
- Orlando is home to the largest density of Unity licenses in the U.S.
- Orlando is building the first immersive Digital Twin.
- Orlando is the global epicenter of modeling, simulation and training which is the core of technology to create the metaverse.
- Orlando’s world-class entertainment, theme park and gaming industry provides large talents pools for creative and design.
- The Simulation Learning, Evaluation, Assessment and Research Network (SimLEARN) is the VHA’s program for simulation in health care training.
- The Central Florida Chapter of the AR/VR Association is one of the largest and most active chapters.
Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control


Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control
Walt Disney Parks & Resorts


Walt Disney Parks & Resorts
Company: Walt Disney Parks & Resorts
Visit WebsiteAVT Simulation


AVT Simulation
Company: AVT Simulation
Industry: Simulation
Company Size (Employees): 0-50
Brand XR


Brand XR
Company: Brand XR
Visit WebsiteRed 6


Red 6
Company: Red 6
Visit WebsiteJetBlue


JetBlue
Engineering & Computer Simulations


Engineering & Computer Simulations
Company: Engineering & Computer Simulations
Visit WebsiteMass Virtual


Mass Virtual
Company: Mass Virtual
Visit WebsiteLeidos


Leidos
Company: Leidos
Industry: Aviation, Aerospace and Defense, Energy
Company Size (Employees): 500-1000
Echo Interaction Group


Echo Interaction Group
Company: Echo Interaction Group
Visit WebsiteFalcon’s Creative Group


Falcon’s Creative Group
Company: Falcon’s Creative Group
Visit WebsiteSteamroller Studios


Steamroller Studios
Company: Steamroller Studios
Industry: Innovative Technologies
Company Size (Employees): 0-50
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
- University of Central Florida’s Department of Computer Science employs faculty experts in machine learning and AI.
- Orlando-headquartered AdventHealth partnered with GE Health to open the nation’s largest ‘Mission Control’ command center using AI technology to monitor patients across the entire health care system. It is the nation’s largest healthcare command center, at over 12,500 square feet with 78 workstations that were designed, built, and installed by Constant Technologies. Currently there are 50 team members on staff, with the available capacity to grow. Mission Control is built to evolve as the system and the needs of the hospital change and progress.
- Siemens’ Orlando operations use a digital twin and AI technology application called MindSphere to simulate power plant models.
- An industry leader in the application of innovative, third-wave, context-informed AI solutions for DoD research and development problems, SoarTech focuses on the development of intelligent software that reasons like humans, to automate complex tasks, simplify human-machine interactions, and model human behaviors.
- Checkr is a background check company that helps employers hire candidates with criminal backgrounds and uses AI in its process.
Checkr


Checkr
Company: Checkr
Visit WebsiteSoarTech


SoarTech
Company: SoarTech
Visit Websitekore.ai


kore.ai
Company: kore.ai
Visit WebsiteAdventHealth


AdventHealth
Siemens


Siemens
Company: Siemens
Visit WebsiteONPASSIVE


ONPASSIVE
Company: ONPASSIVE
Visit Websitecare.ai


care.ai
Company: care.ai
Visit WebsiteMayasoft


Mayasoft
Company: Mayasoft
Visit Websiteoptics & photonics | Modeling, simulation & training
3D RECONSTRUCTION
- Orlando has a uniquely competitive position for optics and photonics companies due to its longstanding history in aerospace technology and manufacturing.
- The region’s assets like the University of Central Florida’s College of Optics & Photonics (CREOL) and Central Florida Research Park give these companies a competitive advantage compared to other locations around the world.
- Orlando’s simulation industry is powered by more than 60 years of research and development, a workforce more than 60,000 strong, billions of dollars’ worth of investment and an ecosystem of connected infrastructure and specialized centers of excellence.
- From our early aviation roots as a training center for military pilots and later a community built to win the space race, Orlando’s storyline is one that begins and remains one of a community that welcomes and embraces simulation innovation.
- From aerospace and defense to education, healthcare and gaming, Orlando’s simulation technology sector is behind innovations with global impact.
University of Central Florida


University of Central Florida
Luminar Technologies


Luminar Technologies
Company: Luminar Technologies
Industry: Electronics
Company Size (Employees): 100-500
SIMETRI


SIMETRI
Company: SIMETRI
Visit WebsiteLensAR


LensAR
Company: LensAR
Visit Website.decimal


.decimal
Company: .decimal
Visit WebsiteDash


Dash
Company: Dash
Visit WebsiteNeoMetrix Technologies, Inc.


NeoMetrix Technologies, Inc.
Company: NeoMetrix Technologies, Inc.
Visit WebsiteScannerMax


ScannerMax
Company: ScannerMax
Visit WebsiteTrueScan


TrueScan
Company: TrueScan
Visit WebsiteFARO Technologies


FARO Technologies
Company: FARO Technologies
Photon-X


Photon-X
L3Harris Technologies


L3Harris Technologies
Lightpath Technologies


Lightpath Technologies
Ocean Insight


Ocean Insight
Company: Ocean Insight
Industry: Optics and Photonics
Company Size (Employees): 100-500
Visit WebsiteOptiGrate


OptiGrate
Company: OptiGrate
Industry: Optics and Photonics
Company Size (Employees): 0-50
Northrop Grumman


Northrop Grumman
GAMING
- Orlando’s playground extends beyond its theme parks and outdoor recreation options into the digital world.
- Fueled by the creative minds behind world-class entertainment technology, Orlando is on the verge of explosive growth in its game technology sector.
- Orlando houses nationally ranked schools including UCF’s FIEA and Full Sail University, which are consistently ranked every year in the Princeton Review’s Top Game Design Schools.
- The Orlando Game Space is a one stop shop for development and creative projects. Orlando Game Space is community of digital media professionals that provides support, guidance and connections for growing companies at every level.
- Indienomicon is a community that provides a streamlined platform to promote the game development industry with profiles of independent game studios Indienomicon hosts Indie Galactic Space Jam, a space themed game event in partnership with NASA and Space Florida each year.
- The Fortress is home to esports on Full Sail University’s campus. Built to recognize and support Armada – Full Sail’s collegiate-level esports team – The Fortress is a flexible live production space, designed to host everything from friendly campus game events to full competitive collegiate tournaments.
Electronic Arts


Electronic Arts
Iron Galaxy Studios


Iron Galaxy Studios
Company: Iron Galaxy Studios
Visit WebsiteFull Sail University


Full Sail University
Unity Technologies


Unity Technologies
Company: Unity Technologies
Visit WebsiteGameSim


GameSim
Company: GameSim
Visit WebsiteCyberDream


CyberDream
Company: CyberDream
Visit WebsiteSemiconductors, sensors, network
IOT
- NeoCity, a technology district is Osceola County, Florida, is dedicated to the development of smart sensors, photonics, software applications and process improvements in science and engineering.
- The Center for NeoVation is one of the most technologically advanced manufacturing research centers in the western hemisphere. The Center is currently being utilized by imec, an international research & development organization active in the fields of nanoelectronics and digital technologies, as well as U.S. based foundry Skywater Technologies, which is the current operator of the fabrication facility.
- Skywater Technologies is a one of the country’s only pure-play foundries that combine agile development and quality volume manufacturing with trusted IP security to enable customers efficient development of highly differentiated technologies and rapidly deliver them to market.
SkyWater Technology


SkyWater Technology
Company: SkyWater Technology
Industry: Advanced Manufacturing
Company Size (Employees): 100-500
Visit Websiteimec


imec
Company: imec
Visit Websitebridg


bridg
Company: bridg
Visit WebsiteMicross


Micross
Company: Micross
Visit Website
“Our expansive multi-billion dollar VR/AR development, coupled with advancements we’ve made in 3D simulation and gaming have made Orlando the largest contributor to the building blocks of the metaverse….”
– Buddy Dyer
Mayor, City of Orlando
MetaCenter™ in the News
- Orlando sets out to cement itself as the center of the metaverse, Orlando Inno
- Orlando Emerges as the Center of the Metaverse, TechStory
- Orlando will test if a physical city can be the center of the metaverse, VentureBeat
- ‘Godmother of the Metaverse’ Cathy Hackl to work with Orlando on new tech strategy, Orlando Inno
- Orlando Economic Partnership declares region as the center of the “Metaverse,” Bungalower
- Does the metaverse offer Orlando firms business opportunities, Orlando Business Journal
- Why Orlando is the MetaCenter™ of the metaverse, Orlando Inno