SOUTH KINGSTOWN – The University of Rhode Island has been awarded an $8 million U.S. National Science Foundation grant to support the state’s research ecosystem and strengthen science and technology initiatives.
The university announced Wednesday that the Rhode Island Inclusive Network of Excellence in Science and Technology – a partnership of URI, the Narragansett Indian Tribe, Brown University, Rhode Island College, Rhode Island School of Design and Roger Williams University – will use the grant to work with one another to bolster Rhode Island’s research competitiveness and support societal and economic growth.
URI says it will work with the partner higher education institutions to encourage partnerships with nonprofit and industry organizations to develop use-inspired innovation benefiting communities across Rhode Island. The network, URI says, will also work with the Rhode Island Science and Technology Advisory Council to update the state’s science and technology plan, coordinating current and future research and workforce development opportunities.
Elin Torell, the network’s principal investigator and director of URI’s Coastal Institute, said in a statement the network’s first step will be to identify Rhode Island’s science and technology needs together with the Narragansett Indian Tribe, R.I. Commerce Corp. and other key partners.
“I hope that [the network] will contribute to increasing federal research funding coming to our state and generate a number of productive partnerships,” Torell said.
James Bessette is the PBN special projects editor, and also covers the nonprofit and education sectors. You may reach him at Bessette@PBN.com. You may also follow him on X at @James_Bessette.