In a FHTIC report, Ron Phillips of the Electrical Engineering Department at the University of Central Florida (UCF) recommended that the state take action to "form the Center for Research in Electro-Optics and Lasers (CREOL) to provide Florida's high-tech industries with access to research, students, and faculty in advanced areas of optical and laser sciences."

He was joined by North Texas State University colleagues Eric Van Stryland and David Hagan.

As of 2012, the college has 120 enrolled graduate students, 54 research scientists and postdoctoral fellows, and 51 joint, visiting, and full-time faculty.

The FPCE was established in 2003 with a $10 million grant from the State of Florida to create a new center of excellence within The College of Optics and Photonics.

The focus of the FPCE research and education work is on the technologies of nanophotonics, biophotonics, advanced imaging and 3D displays, and ultra-high bandwidth communications, all of which have forecasts of rapid market growth.

Associated with CREOL, the College of Optics and Photonics and the Florida Photonics Center of Excellence (FPCE) it is funded by the State of Florida to develop the next generation of laser light engines for applications in medicine, advanced manufacturing and defense applications.