Many are hedging their bets on where Rhode Island’s technology future is going, but 2011 gave a few important cairns.
The first is a stake in the ground declaring “We are here!” for life sciences companies in Providence, with the initial showcase put on by the Rhode Island Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Brown University’s Technology Ventures office and the Warren Alpert Medical School.
“What we wanted to do is say: ‘Hey, there’s activity [in Providence] already, and here are four companies that are growing, are looking for more resources’,” said Brendan McNally, director of RI-CIE. Basically – don’t fly by on the Acela. Make a stop in Providence.
“People were networking and understanding more about what’s happening here in Providence, [and] that’s the ultimate value – we’ve started a conversation that’s repeatable … sustainable,” said Stephen Lane, CEO and co-founder of Providence-based Ximedica, which is a contract developer and manufacturer of medical devices.
The one-day event began with an “open studio walkabout” of four early-stage companies in the Knowledge District: NABsys, Epivax, ShapeUp and Isis Biopolymer, followed by a series of panel discussions on medical-device innovation and on the role of partnerships in pharmaceutical innovation.
“One of the key things we were [trying] to show [was] there is a critical mass of opportunities, particularly in the Knowledge District,” said McNally.
Indisputably, the vital backbone to any technology startup or research facility is having access to a broadband data network. Thanks to a $21.7 million grant through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 – matched by $10.7 million in private funds – Rhode Island will have 339 miles of 48-strand fiber optic network capacity covering every county in the state along with neighboring Bristol County, Mass., for community institutions.
And, although the Ocean State has been much-praised for its Internet connectivity, the Ocean State Higher Education Economic Development and Administrative Network aims to make the service affordable to its members – nonprofit organizations.
“Hospitals aren’t making money these days. This technology is something that we need,” said Susan Cerrone Abely, vice president and chief information officer of Providence-based CharterCare Health Partners.
As of Nov. 28, the network had constructed 229 miles of the network – including the major backbone, Providence County (with 169 miles), and 90 percent of Kent County (60 miles), Associate Executive Director Pam Christman said.
“This project will touch just about every citizen in Rhode Island. If you are a voter, the secretary of state’s office will be using this system,” said George Loftus, president and CEO of consortium, also known as OSHEAN.
The network, dubbed Beacon 2.0, will have a capacity of 400 gigabits per second, allowing schools to connect at 1 gigabit per second, or 50 times faster than the average speed at a Rhode Island home, while universities and hospitals will be able to reach speeds up to 10 gigabits per second.
Loftus estimated OSHEAN will be able to process 10 gigabits for what 1 gigabit costs today and 1 gigabit for today’s price of 20 megabits;
The organization emphasizes affordability for nonprofits because, Loftus said, they are the “least equipped” to pay for the technology but most in need. •
