Innovation Tour Recognizes Rhode Island Companies with an Innovative Approach to Business
January 29, 2008 | Print this page | Share This | Email this page
Governor Carcieri, RIEDC Slated to Visit More than 10 Companies in 2008
Governor Donald L. Carcieri and the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation (RIEDC) are proud to celebrate Rhode Island's hometown heroes — the businesses, both big and small, that drive the state’s growing innovation economy.
The RIEDC's 2008 Innovation Tour showcases businesses from across the state that have made innovation a priority. What sets Rhode Island's innovators apart? By continuously challenging themselves to deliver better services and products, these companies have distinguished themselves as industry leaders that produce good jobs for Rhode Islanders and reinforce the state's position as a great place to start and grow a business.
"Rhode Island has many reasons to be proud. Chief among them is the impressive list of innovative companies that make their home in Rhode Island," says Governor Carcieri. "The 2008 Innovation Tour is an important opportunity for us to recognize, support and celebrate the individuals and institutions across our state who are growing strong businesses and good, high-wage jobs for Rhode Island's citizens."
After the success of the 2006 and 2007 Innovation Tours, which stopped at 13 innovative Rhode Island companies, Governor Carcieri and RIEDC Executive Director Saul Kaplan will spend the 2008 Innovation Tour meeting with company leadership and employees, and bringing attention to the exciting innovations happening right here in the Ocean State.
"It is tremendously exciting for me to see how our efforts to promote an innovation agenda have ignited a state-wide dialogue about how best to grow a world-class innovation economy," says Kaplan. "We have every reason to be thankful for the innovative companies like those the Governor and I will visit on the Innovation Tour. These companies are providing hundreds of Rhode Islanders with good jobs. Even more important is that these companies strengthen our overall ability to serve as an innovation hub for the rest of the nation."
2008 RIEDC Innovation Tour
Stops on the 2008 RIEDC Innovation Tour include:
- Applied Science Associates
Creates modeling and simulation software. Software was notably used in finding a passenger who fell off a cruise ship in Florida. Narragansett, www.appsci.com - Hall Spars and Rigging
Hall Spars and Rigging manufactures high-performance autoclave-cured carbon fiber spars for custom and production sailboats. Bristol, www.hallspars.com - Neurotech USA
Biotechnology company dedicated to the development of sight-saving therapeutics for chronic retinal diseases. Neurotech is currently in Phase II of clinical trials for a pharmacological product that treats many chronic retinal diseases. Lincoln, www.neurotechusa.com - Polaris
Polaris Medical Management is a Management Service Organization (M.S.O.) formed by Rhode Island physicians to provide smaller independent physician practices with the necessary support and expertise needed to effectively operate in today's changing healthcare industry. Cranston, www.polarismedical.com - QualityMetric
The developers of the most widely use patient-reported health outcome surveys. Pharmaceutical companies use the surveys and consulting services to evaluate new drugs and differentiate their products. Health management companies use the tools to assess medical treatments and predict future medical expenses. Lincoln, www.qualitymetric.com - Textile Engineering and Manufacturing
Progressive manufacturer producing 2D and 3D woven fabrics and integrally stiffened panels. They are selling materials to TPI Composites for the new HUMVEE composite body project for American General and the U.S. Army. North Smithfield, www.teamtextiles.com
For more information about the 2008 Innovation Tour, contact Melissa Withers at 401-278-9134,
