Florida Poly Partners With SelectFlorida on Investment
Florida Polytechnic University has signed an agreement with SelectFlorida to attract investment and build technology infrastructure across the state.
Updated on Nov. 8, 2026 in Higher Education
Live Poll
Do you think Florida's public universities should partner with state agencies to attract business investment?
Florida Polytechnic University signed a partnership agreement with SelectFlorida on Monday, November 2, to draw investment and build technology infrastructure. SelectFlorida is the international commerce arm of the Florida Department of Commerce.
Why it matters
The partnership ties Florida's only state university devoted entirely to STEM to the state's economic development goals. It links the university's engineering graduates and international relationships with a global investor network for Florida.
The agreement was signed Monday, November 2, and Florida Poly is described as the only state university devoted entirely to STEM. The source does not disclose any dollar figures for the investment or infrastructure goals.
The players
Florida Polytechnic University
Florida Polytechnic University is a public university in Lakeland, Florida, devoted entirely to science, technology, engineering and mathematics education.
SelectFlorida
SelectFlorida is the international commerce arm of the Florida Department of Commerce, focused on attracting foreign investment to the state.
Devin Stephenson
Devin Stephenson is the president of Florida Polytechnic University, leading the institution's academic and strategic direction.
Matt Swanson
Matt Swanson is the president and chief executive officer of SelectFlorida, overseeing its international investment recruitment efforts.
The details
Florida Poly will pair its technical expertise, engineering graduates and international relationships with SelectFlorida's global investor network. Prospective investors and corporate partners will be introduced to Florida's business environment under the arrangement.
Timeline
Monday, November 2, 2026: Florida Poly and SelectFlorida signed the partnership agreement.
Season Trajectory
The partnership extends SelectFlorida's established investor-recruitment work by adding a STEM-focused university's technical capacity and international ties. It reflects a pattern in which state economic development agencies pair with higher education institutions to attract technology-oriented investment.
Florida students in technology and engineering fields may see expanded connections to industry partners and investors through the university. The source does not indicate any immediate change to tuition, enrollment or program availability.
The takeaway
Partnerships between universities and state economic agencies can connect students and researchers with investment networks beyond the classroom. Students interested in STEM careers in Florida may find these ties relevant when weighing where to study.
Further reading
Explore more on Higher Education for context on how universities shape regional economic growth.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government..
Live Poll
Do you think Florida's public universities should partner with state agencies to attract business investment?
