Home Nonprofit & Education Education Rhode Island needs more scientific breakthroughs to become a biotech hub, but...

Rhode Island needs more scientific
breakthroughs to become a biotech hub, but making it happen is not a simple matter

By Mary MacDonald

URI STAR: Walt Besio, professor of biomedical engineering at the University of Rhode Island and owner of CREmedical, secured $6 million in a National Science Foundation grant in 2015, a year after he earned two patents for a biomedical electrode that measures brain activity and can be used to potentially stop life-threatening seizures. From left, Jessika Decker, test subject and intern at CREmedical, Besio and Rachel Bartels, product manager at CREmedical. / PBN PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO

URI STAR: Walt Besio, professor of biomedical engineering at the University of Rhode Island and owner of CREmedical, secured $6 million in a National Science Foundation grant in 2015, a year after he earned two patents for a biomedical electrode that measures brain activity and can be used to potentially stop life-threatening seizures. From left, Jessika Decker, test subject and intern at CREmedical, Besio and Rachel Bartels, product manager at CREmedical. / PBN PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO


Rhode Island wants its own share of the biomedical-, technology- and engineering-based economy that has transformed Boston, and strengthened the competitive position of Massachusetts. To that end, over the past several years, the Ocean State has made significant public investments in creating an innovation district in downtown Providence, as well as one aligned with the

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1 COMMENT

  1. What does this mean? …”To be like Boston, Rhode Island needs more depth and variety in activities and individuals that support innovation-related businesses”?

    I believe we mean “To be like Boston, PROVIDENCE needs more depth and variety in activities and individuals that support innovation-related businesses”.

    Providence does (culinary and performing arts, history, etc) and can (biotechnology, medical, engineering) compete with Boston. It has little to do with the state.

    Compare cities to cites, states to states. Come on, now!

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