Startups and small businesses developing flood-resilient building materials or hurricane-proof infrastructure can now apply for a Florida International University program targeting South Florida's coastal and storm-damage challenges.

FIU's Risk and Resilience Tech Hub Innovation Center opened applications Thursday, July 23, for its 2026-2027 cohort. The program plans to support 10 to 15 companies each year, drawing from roughly $2.2 million in resources spread over three years, averaging about $720,000 annually, according to a Refresh Miami report published the same day.

The deadline to apply is Friday, Aug. 22, 2026.

A hurricane simulator and lab access for startups

Accepted companies get access to testing facilities that would otherwise be out of reach for most startups. The headline resource: FIU's Wall of Wind, a 12-fan hurricane simulator that FIU describes as the only university-based facility of its kind in the country. It is located at FIU's Engineering Center on West Flagler Street in Miami and can produce winds up to 150 mph, according to NBC Miami.

The program also connects companies with the University of Miami's ACCESS Lab for cement and concrete testing, UM's Center for Integration of Composites into Infrastructure, and Titan Florida's R&D Laboratory.

Beyond lab access, participants can use engineering and technical integration services, manufacturing and collaboration space at Titan Florida's Innovation Hub in Wynwood, equipment rental support and non-dilutive workforce grants where available.

"We have world class research institutions, industry partners, and real-world challenges that make this an ideal place to develop and demonstrate new technologies," Yogeswaran Umasankar, emerging technology research specialist at the Risk and Resilience Tech Hub, said in the July 23 announcement.

The program wants proven tech, not early prototypes

The program targets companies working on concrete, cement and construction materials; coastal and flood resilience; transportation infrastructure; and building systems. Applicants should have a technology past early prototyping, a defined path to pilot or commercialization, and interest in deploying within South Florida.

Key dates for applicants

Applications take about 20 to 25 minutes to complete and can be submitted at fiu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_elB067Ow2SUhbfg. Selected companies will be announced Monday, Sept. 21, 2026. A Demo Day is scheduled for the week of Monday, Oct. 26, 2026.

Miami Beach's own resilience push runs in parallel

Miami Beach is separately spending $439 million on resilience infrastructure through its General Obligation Bond program, approved by voters in 2018 and 2022, funding 57 improvement projects across North Beach, Middle Beach and South Beach. The kinds of technologies the RRTH program targets, including flood-resilient construction materials and building systems, align with the infrastructure work the city is undertaking through that bond program.

RRTH is based at FIU's Office of Research and Economic Development and pairs companies with university and industry partners to move new technologies toward pilot deployment, manufacturing and commercialization. The application window closes Friday, Aug. 22.