Kunal Patel to Lead Orange County’s First Innovation Center

Orange County has appointed longtime tech leader and community builder Kunal Patel as Innovation Manager for the Orange County Innovation Center, a new initiative designed to support creativity, workforce readiness and cross-industry collaboration. The center is expected to open at the end of April inside the renovated former Gooding’s building on West Colonial Drive, operating alongside the new Multicultural Center and Senior Center.

Patel will serve as head of the Innovation Center, overseeing programming, partnerships, facilities and the development of multiple technology labs. His role also includes helping Orange County departments explore internal innovation and new approaches to public service.

“This is the first time Orange County has created an innovation center like this,” Patel told the Orlando Life. “Part of this came from Mayor Demings and his vision for a more future ready community.” Patel said the vision was inspired in part by Disney’s original EPCOT concept, the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow, where residents are encouraged to think creatively and collaboratively about the future. “The goal is to give residents a place to be creative, learn new skills and work together in new ways. The government should also be innovative, so a big part of this role is helping departments try new ideas that improve how they operate.”

A Countywide Springboard for Creativity and Learning

The 17,000 to 20,000 square foot center will house an array of labs focused on high growth technologies, including robotics, simulation, gaming, content creation, fashion and fabrication. Patel described the facility as a circular ecosystem where families, professionals and industry can interact, learn and build together.

Patel said the center is intended to serve residents from across Orange County while also bringing valuable resources directly into Pine Hills, where the building is located.

“We expect the Innovation Center to be a springboard,” Patel said . “A springboard for creativity, for higher graduation rates, for seniors to stay active, for workforce development and for companies to engage with the community. People may come in with a small interest, but this center will propel them forward.”

Patel has spent more than a decade shaping Orlando’s tech ecosystem through Indienomicon, OMG Labs and collaborations with industries ranging from space and defense to healthcare and entertainment. Those efforts, along with years spent leading game jams, hackathons and community events, helped prepare him for this county role.

“I had a front seat to how people innovate,” Patel said . “Innovation is almost never a single big eureka moment. It is small adjustments, small steps and experimentation. My experience lets me take what I have learned across many industries and turn it into programming that helps people grow.”

Local leaders echoed that sentiment.

Isabella Johnston, Founder and CEO of Employers 4 Change and a community leader within OMG Labs and Indienomicon, said Patel brings unmatched depth in emerging technology.

“Kunal has really deep and rich experience in frontier technology. It is his life. It is who he is,” Johnston told the Orlando Life. “He loves education, he loves kids and he has a deep respect for all generations. He stays on top of the trends and wants to see success in education and lifelong learning. That is why he is such a strong fit for this role.”

Matt Hogan, CEO and Founder of M3D Technologies and Co-Founder of the Unreal Orlando Chapter, said Patel’s track record made the appointment feel obvious.

“I knew he was the perfect fit,” Hogan told the Orlando Life. “He has always been passionate about the tech industry and about the community. He is a supporter of underserved communities and wants this technology to be accessible to everyone. There is no better person to oversee this project.”

What Happens to OMG Labs and Indienomicon

Patel confirmed that both organizations will continue operating.

“They'll continue,” he said . “Over the years I have built a strong network and a team that has stepped up to run events even in my absence. I still get to stay in those roles. If any conflict of interest ever comes up, I will hand it off, but everything moves forward.”

What to Expect When the Center Opens

The Innovation Center will offer:

• Youth and family programs
• Workforce development and professional labs
• Company and industry workshops
• Tech demos and accelerators
• Community meetups and events
• Cross-disciplinary collaboration across its labs

Patel emphasized that success will not be measured by a single milestone but by ongoing change and community participation. “We want to see people collaborating, being creative and becoming more adaptive,” he said . “The goal is a community that keeps learning and keeps moving forward.”

How to Stay Informed

Orange County is preparing a public website for the center. In the meantime, Patel encourages residents to sign up for project updates through this dedicated newsletter.