The University of Rhode Island received $2.5 million to expand a program supporting civilian and military technologies.
The University of Rhode Island has received $2.5 million from the US Office of Naval Research to expand a program that helps researchers and entrepreneurs develop technologies for civilian and military markets.
Funding will support the next phase of Regional Innovation by Scaling Entrepreneurship via University Partnerships (RISE-UP).
The initiative focuses on maritime systems, energy technology, defense applications, and workforce development.
It provides researchers, students, faculty members, and startup founders with mentorship and training to turn early-stage research into products or companies.
Support includes assessing potential markets, developing business plans, identifying funding opportunities, and preparing technologies for commercial or government customers.
The University of Rhode Island (URI) said the new funding will expand entrepreneurship and commercialization programs and strengthen cooperation among universities, industry, government agencies, and defense organizations.
The activities will be managed through URI Innovations, the university’s commercialization and startup-support unit.
RISE-UP
RISE-UP connects the University of Rhode Island with the University of Alaska Fairbanks and the University of Hawai‘i.
Each university runs programs based on regional priorities while sharing expertise across the three states.
Previous phases of the program have trained more than 300 participants across Rhode Island, Alaska, and Hawai‘i. They contributed to the creation of the Ocean Technology Center test site at URI’s Narragansett Bay Campus.
RISE-UP also works with the Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division Newport and Rhode Island-based maritime and defense companies.
The university identified Saab, Anduril, HavocAI, VATN Systems, and General Dynamics Electric Boat among the businesses connected to the initiative.
