ALL ENGINES ARE FIRED.
We are launching a new era of greatness.
AND WE CAN’T WAIT FOR YOU TO JOIN US.
The future is moving fast, and the world needs problem-solvers who can keep up.
Go for Launch is a historic campaign for the future of our university and our world. This is UCF’s moment to lead with purpose, meet the world’s growing needs, invest in our strengths and put our name in the stars. We are ambitiously embracing the endless possibilities ahead.
Our aim is clear: Fuel discovery and innovation. Advance future frontiers. Elevate student success. Maximize competitive excellence.
That’s why our researchers are developing solutions the world needs most. Our programs are preparing students to meet the future where it’s going. And our community of innovators is achieving breakthroughs in AI technology, creating a world-class destination campus and competing at the highest echelons in academics and athletics.
We’re not just imagining the future — we’re building it. With each discovery and every journey, we transcend boundaries and defy expectations to chart our own path forward. It’s this kind of excellence that has put UCF on the map.
We are acting on our ambition, because the future can’t wait. This campaign will move us all forward together, toward a future that UCF is building today. And when you join us, you help launch UCF into a greater orbit. Together, there’s no limit to where we can go.
ADVANCING FUTURE FRONTIERS
Behind every technological milestone that’s emerged at UCF are years of research, countless hours of computation and vigorous debate over what each development means for the future. History is a reminder of our influence. From space exploration and national security to healthcare and sustainable technology, our ability to conceive, develop and deliver technology and innovation accelerates growth in Florida and around the world.
We are entering a time when the seamless merger of humanity and technology unlocks limitless potential. Our future will be defined by radical progress: eradicating previously incurable diseases, enabling hypersonic travel across the globe and in space, fortifying cybersecurity through AI, bolstering military defense with quantum computing and revolutionizing key industries — including manufacturing, energy,
automotive, healthcare, supply chain logistics, and urban planning — via self-optimizing, autonomous digital twins.
Everything imaginable is within our reach. The pervasive rise of artificial intelligence ushers in an exciting tomorrow, fraught with unforeseen hurdles and boundless potential. Its impact will be significant — daunting for some, yet powerfully inspirational for our community: students, faculty, industry partners and you.
With support from our donors, industry partners and non-profit communities, we can form alliances that demonstrate the critical role UCF plays in business competitiveness, job growth and our improved quality of life.
LOOKING TRANSFORMATION AHEAD
RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE
Ambitious interdisciplinary research initiatives are vital for UCF’s continued success and our commitment to scientific advancement. To that end, we are establishing a new Research Pavilion that will house a centrally operated cleanroom capable of developing semiconductors that power personal computers, smart cities, consumer electronics, autonomous vehicles, medical devices and industrial manufacturing processes.
This initiative is not just about new facilities for developing energy-efficient chips; it’s about creating a hub that will drive collaboration across campus and with industry partners. Ultimately, this nerve center will attract major grants and top-tier talent — faculty and students eager to engage in groundbreaking work that propels our economy forward.
AEROSPACE MEDICINE
As UCF engineers build the technology to transport us to the Moon and Mars, the challenges facing astronauts and space tourists are more complex than ever — from radiation exposure and altered gravity to psychological stress and emergency medical situations in remote environments.
Our new Aerospace Medicine Institute will meet this urgent demand for physicians and researchers with expertise in the distinct health impacts of space travel. This isn’t a single-discipline effort; it’s a university-wide initiative integrating all 12 UCF colleges to become a leading academic and research hub for space travel and for critically translating those findings into real-world medical breakthroughs on Earth.
DIGITAL TWIN INITIATIVE
What if we could peer into a computer screen and witness reality itself — a sharp, vibrant color image that is simultaneously abstract and recognizable, moving subtly across a thousand points. It could be any part of our world: the place we work, the town we live in, a hospital, a school system or our university.
The UCF Knights Digital Twin initiative is transforming this vision into a tangible reality. By replicating the physical world or creating sophisticated simulations, our initiative brings this cutting-edge technology to life across all disciplines, offering a new frontier in the pursuit of academic credentials. The potential of these digital twins is immense and far-reaching. This technology can serve as a powerful tool for informed decision-making across various industries and help forge vital research partnerships with industry and government entities, creating impacts that resonate deeply within the real world.
PERFORMANCE, IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE AND ENTERTAINMENT LAB
Imagine a medical student practicing complex surgery in a realistic, risk-free virtual environment, or an engineering student collaborating on a virtual engine design with peers across the globe. These immersive experiences leverage technologies like virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) to move beyond static textbooks and passive lectures. They create dynamic, hands-on learning environments that significantly boost engagement, knowledge retention and practical skill development.
By establishing our proposed Performance, Immersive Experience and Entertainment Lab – we call it PIXEL – we create a multidisciplinary space for a new genre of innovators -- engineers, tech, performers, entrepreneurs, storytellers, and scientists who will be empowered to cast, dream up, design, and deliver exceptional storytelling for entertainment products, events, themed experiences and academia in a fully immersive 3D environment.
FOR BETTER CHIPS
UCF researchers are aiding in the development of digital twin technology to improve semiconductor chip manufacturing at one of seven regional research hubs across the United States.
The project, which includes accurately virtualizing the manufacturing process to reduce time-consuming and costly errors, is funded through a $285 million award from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s CHIPS Manufacturing USA Institute competition.
The next time you stare into your smartphone, thank Shin-Tson Wu, a Trustee Chair Professor at CREOL whose pioneering research in liquid crystal displays is responsible for making modern devices -- from the Apple iPhone and Nintendo Game Boy to augmented reality glasses -- more energy-efficient, vibrant and versatile.
WHEN DUST SETTLES
A team of interdisciplinary UCF researchers are leading a NASA project to prevent abrasive, harmful lunar dust accumulation on astronauts and their equipment by fabricating a specialized nanocoating.
PUSH
NEW TWIST ON LCDS
