Federal and state grants grow talent, jobs and business while setting the stage for scientific discovery at Rhode Island institutions

The Ocean State’s investment to grow the economy through research and development is reaping dividends through scientific breakthroughs, building an educated workforce, creating new business opportunities, and sustaining job creation.

Speaking at the 24^th NSF EPSCoR National Conference in Portsmouth, NH, Tuesday, Nov. 3, Christine M.B. Smith, executive director of the Rhode Island Science and Technology Advisory Council (STAC), said collaborative grants awarded to Rhode Island NSF EPSCoR researchers served as the state’s match to the federal grant program.

To date, since 2010, Rhode Island has invested $10.6 million in 71 team projects, according to Smith, who also serves as director of Innovation Programs for Commerce RI.

“That has returned more than $50 million back to the state in the form of grants for continued research, new federal programs, infrastructure improvements, commercialization of new products and launch of new companies,” said Smith, a featured speaker on the panel, “The EPSCoR Trifecta: Research, Science & Technology, and Economic Development.”

Additionally, Smith said, during the five-year EPSCoR grant, 60 percent of the Rhode Island funding through the RI STAC collaborative awards sustained or created 198 jobs, and 38 percent of the funding supported student training.

Created a little more than 10 years ago, RI STAC evolved from the EPSCoR grant planning committee and today is chaired by the vice presidents of research at Brown University (David Savitz) and University of Rhode Island (Gerald Sonnenfeld). The 13-member board represents the academic, business and policy leadership of the state, and meets on a regular basis to review progress and develop new recommendations for enhancing research and development, supporting entrepreneurial activity, and increasing innovation in Rhode Island.

“We have, from the very start, always envisioned, spoken about and funded Rhode Island EPSCoR as a state economic development vehicle,” Smith said. “RI STAC is dedicated to creating economic opportunity and job growth by making Rhode Island a world class center for research and development built on the state’s unique strengths in science, technology, engineering, and design.”

The RI STAC collaborative research grants are awarded to multi-disciplinary, multi-institutional teams that demonstrate a clear path to securing additional or follow-on funding.

Citing one example, Smith pointed to the work of Lucie Maranda, URI Graduate School of Oceanography associate marine research scientist and professor-in-residence, with a Rhode Island company to develop an anti-fouling coating for use in marine settings. The company, which didn’t have the research capacity, teamed up with Maranda, who had the knowledge, expertise and infrastructure to support the research initiative.

The outcome, Smith said, showcases STAC’s efforts to inspire collaboration by providing seed funding for research projects that are well positioned to attract substantial follow-on investment, and support and accelerate conversion of scientific discovery and pioneering technologies into products, businesses and jobs.

By Amy Dunkle