$500K phase one planning grant makes Rhode Island eligible for up to $100M in challenge next phase
The award is designed to help communities revitalize their economies through the development of new industry clusters or by scaling up existing clusters.
The URI Research Foundation’s proposal focuses on Rhode Island’s natural advantages and the density of cross-sector excellence to advance a variety of new “blue” technology capabilities while addressing historically excluded populations and proposing strategies to address economic disparities across the state.
Rhode
Island is now one of 60 finalist applications out of 529 total that were
submitted to receive a phase one planning grant of $500,000 to develop and
support three to eight distinct and meaningful projects to grow the cluster.
“This is an exciting time for URI,” said University of Rhode Island President Marc Parlange. “We have the resources to support technology and growth while building a robust pipeline of jobs. We have spent years building a network of partners, serving as a bridge between industry and government through vital and impactful translational research. This grant will not only accelerate the work we are currently doing but it will position URI as a powerful engine, fueling the blue economy in the state and the region.”
“I helped include $1 billion for the Build Back Better Regional Challenge in the American Rescue Plan Act to make investments in promising programs like the URI Research Foundation’s Blue Economy Technology Cluster,” said U.S. Senator Jack Reed, a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. “I commend URI and its economic development partners for putting together a successful phase one application.
“We
need to make our economy more resilient,” said Reed. “The Rhode Island Blue
Economy Technology Cluster will bring more ‘blue’ jobs and businesses to the
Ocean State and lead to long-term, sustainable growth across Rhode
Island. I hope today’s federal funding leads to a multimillion-dollar
phase two award.”
As
the state’s public research university, URI plays a key role in supporting the
state’s economy and is a recognized global leader in the areas of defense,
offshore energy, composites, ocean engineering, and aquaculture. Its Graduate
School of Oceanography is also ranked as one of the top five oceanographic
institutions in the world.
“We
can build Rhode Island’s economy back better by playing to our advantages, like
the growing ocean economy,” said U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, a longtime
booster of Rhode Island’s blue economy. “This federal award will support the
development of a strategic plan for expanding the Ocean State’s blue economy
and creating well-paying jobs. I wish the University of Rhode Island, Commerce
RI, and their partners continued success in the next round of the challenge.”
URI has a proven track record of taking on projects that support technology-based investments, increase the number of jobs and wages across the state and the region, and provide pathways to higher pay and business ownership for populations that have been historically excluded.
The URI Research Foundation alongside RI
Commerce, and other key partners will lead a coalition of industry, government,
non-profit and academic organizations to combine their expertise and effort to
fundamentally advance new technology development and additional capabilities
for use across sectors of the state’s economy.
“The
University of Rhode Island is leading the way in groundbreaking research
related to the blue economy. When we talk about Building Back Better, we’re
talking about climate action, clean energy, and initiatives that support
sustainable seafood supply chains. The University of Rhode Island is tackling
all of these issues, and I am so proud that such incredible work is being done
right here in Rhode Island’s Second Congressional District,” said Congressman
Jim Langevin. “This $500,000 grant is going to help us put Rhode Island on
the map as the engine of blue technology development around the world.”
With
phase one funding, the URI Research Foundation will work with RI Commerce and
the coalition of government, academic, equity and industry partners to develop
the infrastructure needed to meet the goals of the coalition. The Research
Foundation will be eligible to apply for phase two funding in March of 2022
which could provide up to $100 million in funding to implement the initiative.
“The
RI Blue Economy Technology Cluster will establish Rhode Island and Southern New
England as a premier destination for the ports and shipping, defense, marine
trades, ocean-based renewables, aquaculture and fisheries, and tourism and
recreation industries,” said Congressman David Cicilline. “We have the
potential to become a leader in the blue economy and this Build Back Better
Regional Challenge grant will enable URI and its partners to harness all we
have to offer and realize this vision.”
Secretary
of Commerce Stefan Pryor and the Rhode Island Governor’s office are important
conveners of the partners in the project: “RI Commerce is pleased to be a lead
partner in this effort to strengthen and grow our blue economy,” said Secretary
Pryor. “The Governor’s RI 2030 plan and RI Innovates 2.0 conclude that the blue
economy can be a key economic driver for the state, creating high quality,
well-paying jobs. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with URI and
other key stakeholders on this important initiative.”
The
URI Research Foundation, also known as URI Ventures, oversees market analysis,
commercialization of protected intellectual property, and the development of
business relationships with corporate and government partners for the
University of Rhode Island. These commercialization activities advance Rhode
Island’s economy, while improving society and human lives.
