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URI will collaborate with these institutions to encourage unique partnerships with non-profit and industry organizations and develop use-inspired innovation that will benefit communities throughout the state and society at large. RII-NEST will also work with the Rhode Island Science and Technology Advisory Council to update the state\u2019s science and technology plan, coordinating current and future research and workforce development opportunities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI look forward to supporting the state in growing its capacity to fund and implement inclusive and meaningful research that bolsters our blue economy and other areas of research,\u201d said Elin Torell<\/a>, principal investigator of RII-NEST, director of URI\u2019s Coastal Institute and director for the Coastal Resources Center’s international programs at the Graduate School of Oceanography. \u201cAn important first step will be to identify Rhode Island\u2019s science and technology needs together with the Narragansett Indian Tribe, Rhode Island Commerce, and other key partners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIn the long run, I hope that RII-NEST will contribute to increasing federal research funding coming to our state and generate a number of productive partnerships with industry and communities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n RII-NEST comprises four capacity-building themes: administration, workforce development, partnerships, and science communication. These themes, or \u201ccores,\u201d will broaden diverse and inclusive participation in Rhode Island\u2019s research enterprise, supporting data-driven and accessible science and technology efforts. By providing new seed grants and programming for collaborative proposals, among other activities, RII-NEST seeks to grow the state\u2019s science and technology ecosystem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n RII-NEST will be a part of the Rhode Island NSF Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (RI NSF EPSCoR<\/a>), which over the past five years has supported nearly 500 faculty and students in STEM fields and brought over $50 million in additional research funding into the state. Nationally, the NSF EPSCoR program builds fundamental research capacity and competitiveness in 25 states and three territories across the U.S., including Rhode Island, that have historically received less research funding from NSF.<\/p>\n\n\n\n