The Florida Center for Advanced Aero-Propulsion hosts its third annual FCAAP Symposium & Exhibition at Innovation Park Thursday and Friday.

The center says leaders from state, national and international aerospace and aviation industries, along with state legislative leaders and the Governor’s Office, will gather for in-depth discussions on the challenges in growing this industrial sector.

In addition, the two days of sessions take place in Florida State University’s brand new Aero-Propulsion, Mechatronics and Energy Building, a 60,000-square-foot facility that serves as FCAAP’s headquarters. The building supports research in aerospace, aviation, robotics and sustainable energy engineering.

The $22 million facility has the added enhancement of a polysonic wind tunnel on site that is capable of wind speeds ranging from Mach 0.2 to Mach 5. It was paid for by a $3.3 million grant from the National Science Foundation.

Symposium topics include smart and advanced materials, actuator and sensor design, subsonic and supersonic flow and noise control, and other areas relevant to the industry today, FCAAP said.

The Tallahassee-based center was established by the Florida Legislature in 2006 and consists of FSU, the University of Florida, the University of Central Florida and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

For more information about the symposium or to register, visit www.fcaap.com or call 645-2631.