The Ottawa Centre for Research and Innovation said Friday it has signed a three-year agreement with the State of Florida's economic development agency to foster closer ties in the high-tech sector.

The agreement is between OCRI and state agency Enterprise Florida Inc. (EFI).

Under the terms of the agreement, the two agencies will work to develop closer ties between the tech hubs of Ottawa and Florida in three key areas – photonics, life sciences, and information and communication technology.

Focus will be on promoting research, commercialization and trade initiatives involving universities, centres of excellence, research organizations and private-sector companies.

"Under this agreement, OCRI will help high tech firms in Ottawa and elsewhere in Ontario take up exciting new opportunities for collaboration in research, development and trade," OCRI president and CEO Jeffrey Dale said in a statement.

"Florida is an important gateway to the Caribbean and Latin America. As part of this agreement, EFI will be helping us open the door to these important markets."

For its part, OCRI will act as a facilitator between Florida companies and counterparts across Canada and in other Commonwealth countries.

"There are historic ties between our two jurisdictions, but this agreement breaks new ground," added Darrell Kelley, President and CEO, EFI. "It shows how cooperation and collaboration can serve everyone's interests, creating new opportunities for research and trade; new opportunities for wealth creation."