Ocean Tech Hub
Lead Agency: Rhode Island Commerce Corporation
States Served: Massachusetts, Rhode Island
Applicant-Defined Region: Providence-Warwick, RI-MA MSA
Core Technology Area: ocean robotics, sensors, and materials
Contact: Lisa Carnevale ([email protected])
The Ocean Tech Hub of Southeastern New England (Ocean Tech Hub), led by the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation, seeks to develop, test, and commercialize emerging maritime artificial intelligence / machine learning-enabled robotics and sensors. This Tech Hub will leverage its unique coastal assets – including seven commercial ports and shallow and deep ocean access – to meet growing commercial demand for digital and physical testing and manufacturing environments for rapid prototype testing. In doing so, the Ocean Tech Hub seeks to advance ocean technology innovation and become a global leader in the growing ocean economy.
The Ocean Tech Hub seeks to expand access to digital and water-based testing facilities that would enable entrepreneurs to protype and accelerate commercialization of ocean technologies.
This consortium’s proposal includes plans to:
- Develop a university consortium to streamline research commercialization efforts, share access to testing facilities, and pilot a business law clinic for ocean tech entrepreneurs;
- Create co-working space and fabrication labs where growing businesses can build, test and iterate designs for undersea robotics and materials;
- Provide businesses access to dockside, nearshore, and deep ocean testing sites focused on products for servicing the clean energy sector;
- Create “digital twins” of Narragansett and Buzzards Bays to enable technology testing;
- Expand and coordinate workforce programs to provide job opportunities in the growing ocean technology industry;
- Provide growth-ready startups and legacy manufacturers with technical assistance and capital access to help them service the ocean technology market; and
- Serve as a centralizing force for regional efforts, maintain alignment across Ocean Tech Hub priorities and evolving market trends, and track measurable and realistic but ambitious goals.
To ensure that the impacts of the Tech Hub projects benefit the entire region, the consortium is committed to working with local organizations to ensure that its entrepreneurial programs and workforce development initiatives include individuals from underserved communities, formerly incarcerated individuals and people of color.
This summary is based on information submitted by the applicants. If selected for funding, the final EDA-approved scope of work may differ.
Strategy Development Grant Amount: $395,349
Designee Narrative (PDF)
Additional Designations Earned in Region
