#CGITLAB
The City of Coral Gables Innovation & Technology Department (CGIT) expands its research, innovation and workforce development efforts through the Smart City Research Laboratory.
Located at the city’s facilities complex, the lab brings together CGIT engineers, technology experts and student interns from local universities, colleges and schools. Together, they collaborate on real-world research and development projects while building a strong pipeline of future talent.
Through the Gables TechTank STEM incubator—developed in partnership with the Economic Development Department, local businesses, nonprofit organizations and educational institutions—students are also connected to career opportunities across Coral Gables and South Florida.
At the lab, CGIT staff and interns develop solutions that strengthen the city’s smart systems, technology infrastructure and public services. Projects leverage emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, virtual and augmented reality, Internet of Things (IoT) sensors, digital twins, 3D printing, drones and full-stack development.
Many of these innovations are already in use across city departments and available to the public through the city’s Smart City Hub at www.CoralGables.AI. Additional projects are published as online portfolios, showcasing the work of each lab cohort, including recent student teams such as the Summer 2024 Cohort.
Education and Workforce Development: Building the Tech Talent Pipeline
The Smart City Research Laboratory offers internships and research opportunities for high school, undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and postdoctoral students. These programs are delivered in partnership with leading academic institutions. As of 2025, more than 170 interns and resident researchers have participated, representing fields such as computer science, electrical engineering, robotics, software engineering, data science, statistics and mathematics. Participants come from institutions across Florida and nationwide.
CGIT connects interns to career opportunities through its Interns Portal, business bulletins, workforce development events and other initiatives. The CGIT Interns Portal helps match students with jobs, internships and career pathways within the Coral Gables business and entrepreneurial community. Many lab projects are featured on the Smart City Hub and in the Innovation and Technology Bulletin, connecting businesses, academic institutions and local talent. These efforts support workforce development in high-demand areas such as cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, machine learning, data science and full-stack development.
Projects developed through the lab align with CGIT’s strategic goals and deliver measurable value to city departments and residents. Many tools and systems created by interns are now in production, improving efficiency and public services. Program alumni have gone on to careers as software engineers, data scientists, cybersecurity analysts and IT specialists, with some joining the city to continue contributing to its innovation ecosystem. The Smart City Research Laboratory serves as CGIT’s primary STEM talent pipeline.
The program has contributed to workforce development, STEM education, job creation and the growth of a regional innovation ecosystem. CGIT has received multiple recognitions for this work, including the Smart 20 Award (2026), the GeoGov Innovation in Education, Workforce Development and Capacity Building Award (2025), the Tech Talent Pipeline Workforce Development Award (2025) and Intelligent Community Full Certification (2025–2027).
More information on building the next generation of technology leaders is available in this paper.
