Leadership, Scientific Talent Host Forum on Collaborative Research

On Thursday, April 12, National Science Foundation Deputy Director Kathie Olsen will be among those participating in "Expanding Rhode Island's Research and Development Capacity Through Collaboration," a one-day forum presented by Rhode Island's Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research and the Rhode Island Science and Technology Advisory Council.

The open event will bring together researchers, policy leaders and members of the business community to discuss tools for creating successful collaborations and showcase best practices in collaborative research. [ read more ] To register, visit cels.uri.edu/marketing/expanding.html

Naval Undersea Warfare Center Establishes Center of Excellence in Undersea Technology with University of Rhode Island

The U.S. Naval Undersea Warfare Center has awarded the University of Rhode Island with the first Center of Excellence in Undersea Technology in the United States. [ more ]

Wireless Project Takes Center Stage at Newport Event

The Newport County Chamber of Commerce recently endorsed the statewide rollout of the Rhode Island Wireless Innovation Networks (RI-WINs), an effort to make Rhode Island the first state in the country with a border-to-border broadband network. [ more ]

Student Inventors Strut Stuff at FIRST Vex Challenge

The sights and sounds were reminiscent of a sporting event: referees donning black and white apparel, bleachers filled with an electrified crowd and an announcer's booming voice. But this was no basketball game. This was the FIRST Vex Challenge tournament, a program where high school students built working robots and put their creations to the test in a head-to-head competition. [ more ]

Watch it Now: Port Security Project Serves as National Model

Rhode Island's Port Security Communications Network is a stellar example of how Rhode Island offers a perfect laboratory for testing new ideas. The project uses the Business Innovation Factory's Rhode Island Wireless Innovation Networks wireless broadband network which enables emergency responders to share and distribute text, voice and video data of activity in Narragansett Bay in real-time. The project has created a port security model that can be applied in coastal areas across the United States. [ watch the Port Security Communications Network video ]

IT and Digital Media Center Poised to Boost Growth in Tech

The Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation could have a new neighbor in the American Locomotive Works Development. Jack Templin, co-founder of the Providence Geeks and consultant to RIEDC has been working to create the IT and Digital Media Center, which will help grow that sector in Rhode Island. [ more ]

Rhode Island on Course to Building Successful Innovation Economy

Rhode Island Science and Technology Advisory Council (STAC) co-chairs Jeff Seemann and Clyde Briant hailed the work done by STAC, the governor and the General Assembly to collaborate for economic progress in an Op-Ed on March 11. Read the Providence Journal Op-Ed

Innovator Spotlight: BX.COM

BX.COM, a Providence-based eCommerce and content management solutions company, came close to bankruptcy after the 2000 tech industry bust and September 11. But a loan from the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation helped bring BX.COM back to life. [ more ]

Buzz Abounds for RIEDC's International Trade and Exporting Sector

RIEDC's international trade group has been working with Rhode Island companies to help them make the most of international trade and export. In the Providence Business News Global Trade section, the group was featured in five stories:

• International companies investing in Rhode Island
• EDC helps local companies break into foreign market
• Food Export U.S.A. organizes Caribbean trade mission
• EDC works with companies to achieve E.U. Standards
• Rhode Island's export market shows vast improvement

Chinese Ambassador and Local Officials Discuss Economic Collaboration

Brown University and economic development officials met with Zhou Wenzhong, China's ambassador to the United States, at a dinner co-hosted by the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation and Brown University. Wenzhong discussed potentially collaborating with Rhode Island in technology-based business. [ more ]

Tourism Season Officially Kicks Off at Roger Williams Botanical Center

The Rhode Island Tourism Division celebrated the start of an optimistic spring and summer season on March 22 with a season launch, held at the new $7.7 million Botanical Center at Roger Williams Park in Providence. [ more ]

Providence Journal: R.I. Reaches Out to Latino Entrepreneurs

Every Company Counts' Sherri Carrera and Claudia Cardozo-Tarullo are working hard to help Rhode Island's Latino community succeed. Since Cardozo-Tarullo has been with the EDC (she was hired in January) she has already hosted a lecture geared towards the Latino community, given in Spanish. Next month, she will introduce a Spanish version of Every Company Counts' newsletter and its website. [ more ]

Local Entrepreneur Sells Voice Recognition Technology to Microsoft

Providence native Angus Davis and Microsoft Corporation reached an $800-million deal last month. Davis sold Microsoft his voice technology company Tellme Networks, reportedly Microsoft's second largest acquisition. [ more ]

CVS to Offer Pharmacy Internships to 1 Million High School Students

CVS Pharmacy's Pathways to Pharmacy program, an initiative to encourage young people to consider pharmacy careers, is going national and coming to Rhode Island. The eight-week paid program is geared toward inner-city and rural youth with an aptitude for math and science. [ more ]

RISD's Center for Design and Business Looks to Go Global

As the new executive director of Rhode Island School of Design's Center for Design and Business, Bill Foulkes is steering the center (now in its 10th year) in a new direction. Foulkes still plans to offer the programming and workshops that have made the CDB popular in the local community, but he wants to focus on making the center a design resource for companies worldwide. [ more ]

One River Project Symposium

• When: April 12 and 13
• Contact: Ariana McBride, ariana@ripolicy.org, www.oneriverproject.blogspot.com

The One River Project proposes a new approach to development along the water's edge that enhances the natural function of our urban waterways and preserves their economic and cultural uses. The symposium will present design guidelines developed for the Blackstone River Valley by the One River Project and review them with scientists, developers, policy makers and designers.

PTAC Training Session

• When: April 19, 8:30-11 a.m.
• Where: Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation, 315 Iron Horse Way, Suite 101, Providence.
• Contact: Louis Francis, 401-278-9100, lfrancis@riedc.com, riptac.ecenterdirect.com

This month's training session is an introduction to Rhode Island state purchasing. One-on-one counseling is available by appointment.

Industrial Designers Society of America Conference

• When: April 20–22
• Where: RISD Center for Design and Business, Providence
• Contact: Center for Design and Business at info@centerdesignbusiness.org; www.idsa-ned.org

"SHIFT" is the theme of this year's IDSA Northeast District Conference, hosted by the Rhode Island School of Design and its Center of Design and Business. The conference will focus on the major issues challenging design and business today: eco-strategies, entrepreneurialism, interaction design, and working in China and India. SHIFT speakers hail from Patagonia, Black Diamond, Treehugger, Kid Robot, Core77, Frog Design, the Smithsonian Institute and the Ministry of Culture.

Breakfast with Paul F. Oreffice

• When: April 27, 8:15 a.m.
• Where: Italo-American Club, 477 Broadway, Providence.
• Contact: 401-781-6110.

Enjoy breakfast as CEO and author Paul F. Oreffice shares his personal story "Only in America: From Immigrant to CEO," followed by a book signing. Forced to Ecuador from Italy in 1940, Oreffice later arrived in the United States unable to speak 50 words of English. He graduated from Purdue University and later became the CEO and Chair of Dow Chemical Corp. He has served on the boards of CIGNA, Coca-Cola, Morgan Stanley and Nortel.