South Florida’s defense tech push gains momentum, says Florida Council of 100 CEO
South Florida’s business leaders are making a coordinated push to position the tri-county area as a national hub for defense technology.
That was on full display at the 2026 eMerge Americas conference in Miami Beach. The annual tech expo featured a multitude of national security speakers and displays during its April 23-24 event, including U.S. Army personnel, drone makers, aerospace businesses and other thought leaders driving the future of military and dual-use tech.
That effort is being championed by groups like the Florida Council of 100, an organization of business leaders that advises state leaders on economic growth and policy. It is betting that attracting those businesses to the state will add billions of dollars to the economy, grow high-paying jobs, attract federal dollars and solidify Florida as a center for national security innovation.
"What we're trying to do is organize all our assets so that we can do a better job selling the defense ecosystem that exists here," Michael Simas, president and CEO of Florida Council of 100, told the Business Journal at the conference.
