By Francesca de Quesada Covey, Miami-Dade County
South Florida is booming. But more water, heat and powerful storms are pushing everyday costs higher for people and businesses.
Down here, we face these threats every day. That’s why Miami-Dade County’s ClimateReady Tech Hub accelerates local technology that improves quality of life, lowers everyday expenses and creates jobs.
Washington sees it too, and recently awarded crucial funding to ClimateReady Tech Hub. Under the leadership of Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, ClimateReady covers Miami-Dade, Monroe, Broward and Palm Beach counties. It also partners with local municipalities and has the support of elected leaders on both sides of the aisle from across our region.
ClimateReady works with public, private, academic and philanthropic partners to commercialize and deploy climate technology.
Our hub in Miami is a national model for solution-oriented public-private partnerships.
Here’s what we are doing: We’re investing in technologies built in South Florida that can scale globally. These include: advanced concrete materials that reduce carbon emissions by 40%; reefs, seawalls and breakwaters that protect our $3.5 trillion in coastal assets; and cooling systems for humid climates that can reduce energy consumption by up to 90%.
Florida International University, University of Miami and Florida Atlantic University lead these technology efforts with locally grown scale-ups, marrying IP development with commercialization expertise. We’re investing in people. ClimateReady anticipates creating 23,000 good-paying jobs and adding $41 billion to the region’s GDP when fully funded.
We expect 15,000 will be filled by people from underrepresented groups. Our partners include the nonprofit OIC of South Florida, Miami Dade College, YWCA and IUOE Local 487. We’re investing in the next generation of companies.
The Miami-Dade Innovation Authority will help 500 start-ups and entrepreneurs learn from the experience of our first investments and replicate global market successes. They will provide operating support and guidance on regulatory and policy matters in partnership with leading organizations such as Seaworthy Collective, Marine Research Lab and Miami Waterkeeper.
We’re investing in communities. We’ve developed “first-of-their-kind” demonstration opportunities with the Miccosukee Tribe and Florida Memorial University to deploy the Hub’s proven technology to communities most affected by changing water and heat.
Additionally, we’ve brought in the University of Florida to ensure we work across the state. This investment is a validation of the work we’ve already begun through the initial support of Citadel investment firm founder and CEO Kenneth C. Griffin, the Knight Foundation, Mayor Levine Cava’s administration and the South Florida Regional Planning Council.
Since designation by the U.S. Economic Development Administration in November, startups like Blue Frontier have been added to Miami-Dade County procurement pools. And 1Print, a 3D printing company, is working with University of Miami to deploy a Department of Defense-funded artificial coral reef. Watsco and the CLEO Institute are developing climate training for HVAC technicians. Titan Cement received funding from the Department of Energy. Kind Designs received a federal grant to build living seawalls. Over 400 companies and individuals are now part of our ClimateReady community with more joining the hub each week.
The Biden-Harris Administration’s investment affirms what we who love South Florida already know: our region thrives on grit, ingenuity and creativity.
With a clear vision and unwavering determination, we will tackle our challenges head-on and serve as a national example.
Francesca de Quesada Covey is the regional innovation officer for South Florida’s ClimateReady Tech Hub and chief innovation and economic development officer for Miami-Dade County. This opinion piece was originally published by the Miami Herald, which is a media partner of The Invading Sea.
The Invading Sea is managed by the Center for Environmental Studies at Florida Atlantic University, which is a partner in the ClimateReady Tech Hub. If you are interested in submitting an opinion piece to The Invading Sea, email Editor Nathan Crabbe at ncrabbe@fau.edu. Sign up for The Invading Sea newsletter by visiting here. To learn more about the ClimateReady Tech Hub, watch the video below.
