The IHRC received state funding through the Florida Center of Excellence (COE) competition in 2008, based on a proposal to create a Hurricane Damage Mitigation & Product Development Center. The award provides $7.5 million to develop our Center to further academic research and bring new products to commercialization. This was a highly competitive process, drawing over 40 proposals from every public university in the State and covering multiple industries, including medical and drug technologies.
The goal of the Center of Excellence for Hurricane Damage Mitigation & Product Development (HDMPD) is to become the leader in educating, researching, and commercializing hurricane mitigation technologies that are vital to the economic health of the State of Florida. The HDMPD will change standards for building practices and retrofitting technology of existing residential and commercial structures as well as change our perception of building safety.