Planning underway for development of Undersea Technology Innovation Center

THE SOUTHEASTERN New England Defense Industry Alliance said planning is underway for development of an Undersea Technology Innovation Center that will serve as a national hub.
THE SOUTHEASTERN New England Defense Industry Alliance said planning is underway for development of an Undersea Technology Innovation Center that will serve as a national hub.

MIDDLETOWN – The Southeastern New England Defense Industry Alliance said on Wednesday that planning is underway for development of an Undersea Technology Innovation Center that will serve as a national hub.

According to SENEDIA, the Undersea Technology Innovation Center will promote advanced learning in the undersea sector and the rapid development, testing and commercialization of undersea technology for commercial, academic and defense organizations. A location has yet to be determined, according to Molly Magee, executive director of SENEDIA.

Gov. Gina M. Raimondo noted that the maritime sector was highlighted in the Brookings report as one of the state’s strengths.

“SENEDIA’s Undersea Technology Innovation Center is an exciting and very promising development for Rhode Island defense industry employers and the prospect of creating high-value, high-wage STEM jobs,” she said in a statement.

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In June, SENEDIA was awarded a grant by the van Beuren Charitable Foundation to begin the planning process to formalize Rhode Island as a national leader in undersea technology; the innovation center is one part of that effort. The $75,000 grant was awarded to the Maritime Cybersecurity Center for the Undersea Technology Innovation Center, the foundation said.

First, a virtual undersea technology innovation center will be developed, followed by a physical center, according to SENEDIA.

SENEDIA leadership and state leaders representing the Naval Undersea Warfare Center, Raytheon Co., University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography, General Dynamics Electric Boat and Salve Regina Pell Center have joined together to start the center’s planning.

“SENEDIA looks forward to collaborating with all the companies, organizations, academic programs and others that have a role in undersea technology to make this center the leading hub of undersea technology innovation,” Magee said.

SENEDIA is reaching out to companies and organizations that have a presence in the undersea technology sector in Rhode Island. This information will contribute to the development of a compendium of all the undersea technology resources in the state. SENEDIA asks interested entities that meet this criteria to contact Lee Silvestre at lsilvestre@senedia.org or (401) 935-8416.

“We look forward to hearing from Rhode Island’s leaders in undersea technology as we build the Undersea Technology Innovation Center, and make it a hub for national undersea technology excellence,” Magee said.

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