Bridging academia and industry to accelerate environmental solutions
In the heart of Fort Lauderdale, the Marine Research Hub (MRH) is making waves by fostering collaborations that bridge the gap between academia and industry. One of the most exciting partnerships to emerge from this initiative is the collaboration among MRH university partners Florida Atlantic University (FAU), Florida International University (FIU), and the University of Miami (UM), along with two innovative start-ups, Kind Design and Smart Seawall Technologies, Inc.
Recognizing the potential for synergy, the Marine Research Hub (MRH) facilitated a panel discussion at FAU last spring about the business of the Blue Economy, which highlighted opportunities for entrepreneurship in this field while building relationships for ongoing research and development. By creating these opportunities to engage, expose, and connect, these relationships will develop organically based on the needs of the companies and the expertise of the universities.
Coastal Protection
Kind Design, a Miami-based startup, is revolutionizing coastal construction with 3D-printing technology. The Kind Design team creates Living Seawalls, tiles, and other shoreline structures that are cost-effective, faster to produce, and help rehabilitate marine habitats. Kind Design is collaborating with FAU to potentially replace a section of the seawall at its SeaTech Campus, which will incorporate monitoring and data analysis. The designers are also working with UM on wave dissipation studies and with FIU for ecological data on species diversity and carbon sequestration.
“Our collaborations with leading universities provide the scientific validation to Kind Design’s innovations, advancing our mission to drive sustainable coastal protection,”
— Charlotte Hoffman, Head of Product Development and R&D at Kind Design
Smart Seawall Technologies, Inc., based in Fort Lauderdale, is using its patented seawall systems to protect the shoreline. Its innovative approach features a modular interlocking design, allowing for additional levels to be added to adapt to rising water levels, dissipate wave energy, and enhance marine habitats.
Smart Seawall Technologies is collaborating with FAU’s Ocean and Mechanical Engineering department at the SeaTech Campus, where it has completed initial wave dissipation data and is also partnering with FAU’s Harbor Branch campus on habitat structures for mangroves. Together with Kind Design, Smart Seawall Technologies may also launch a seawall pilot project at the SeaTech location at FAU. Additionally, it has been engaged with Jacksonville University on field tests related to the university’s marine habitat systems and their impact on local ecosystems.
Building Partnerships
Academic and industry relationships, connectivity, and visibility are vital for advancing ocean, coastal, and climate technology solutions.
Partnering with universities provides these start-ups with research capabilities, including access to state-of-the-art laboratories and a wealth of academic and expert knowledge. It also offers opportunities for students and faculty to be actively involved in the research and development process.
Continuing to build these partnerships across sectors will accelerate the scale-up and deployment of these essential solutions and positively impact our economy by creating new jobs and businesses. Academic and industry relationships, connectivity, and visibility are vital for advancing ocean, coastal, and climate technology solutions that will benefit our communities and ecosystems.
Additionally, both companies are engaging the public through displays and educational initiatives with FAU and the Museum of Discovery and Science in Fort Lauderdale. These collaborations and connections exemplify the Marine Research Hub’s mission to connect stakeholders and advance the Blue Economy.
The nonprofit MRH was established in 2017 to develop the Blue Economy by connecting various stakeholders, promoting research-based solutions, and supporting the commercialization of these innovations. By fostering these connections, the stage is set to further showcase Florida’s ecosystem in addressing some of the biggest environmental challenges. Alongside MRH, the state has created an Office of the Ocean Economy to identify potential research and technology opportunities across Florida’s universities for commercialization. This new office, supported by MRH, will be located at FAU and will work statewide.
Furthermore, MRH is engaged in the ClimateReady Tech Hub, a federally funded initiative from the Economic Development Administration (EDA) to support climate technology development and advancement in South Florida.
Through initiatives like this, MRH is not only advancing the Blue Economy but also fostering tangible collaborations between start-ups like Kind Design and Smart Seawall Technologies and MRH university partners, demonstrating the power of partnership in creating a better future for our oceans, waterways, and the communities where we live.
