GREATER NEWPORT
SOFT LANDING PARTNERSHIP

Greater Newport: A Growing Epicenter for the Blue Economy

The Greater Newport region provides blue tech companies the opportunity to scale their business in a welcoming environment.
The Greater Newport Soft Landing Partnership allows companies to have a Blue Tech concierge that makes the process of locating in the region easy and expedites the experience of being part of the community. Our growing portfolio of blue tech companies cites our six areas of strength as the reason they are seeing success.

 

Blue Innovation Symposium
Sector Strength
Newport is at the heart of New England’s Blue Tech ecosystem and is the most central location if you are doing business with industries including:

  • Defense with a focus on undersea tech

  • Offshore Wind  

  • Oceanographic Research

  • Fisheries & Aquaculture

Available Space
A range of opportunities to have office space within proximity to water access

  • Innovate Newport serves as the physical hub for companies and a growing Blue Tech community

  • Office and light manufacturing space available in the region

  • Opportunities for large scale development

Capital Access
A growing array of capital programs to support blue-tech scaling

  • RI Network Matching Grants to support private and academic r&d partnerships

  • Blue Venture Forum connections to equity capital

  • Business plan competitions

Research and Development
Significant depth of Blue-Tech research occurring in the region including:

  • University partners – the University of Rhode Island and Roger Williams University.

  • Naval Undersea Warfare Center, SENEDIA, and their private company partners

  • Undersea Technology Innovation Consortium provides funding to support defense and maritime product prototyping

STEC
Networking and Events
An opportunity to join a Blue Tech community

  • Blue Innovation Symposium – a global blue tech network convening

  • Founders Network – peer network of startup business leaders 

  • Blue economy and environment speaker series

Talent Pipeline
 A pipeline of talent ready for work 

  • 13,000 college and university graduates each year within 40 miles

  • IYRS School of Technology and Trades offers hands-on training to blue-tech builders

  • Fab Newport – introducing the next generation of blue tech workers to the field

RWU Student Teams
The Greater Newport Soft Landing Partnership is led by the Greater Newport Chamber of Commerce, Blue Venture Forum and Innovate Newport.

Contact Us to Learn More about the Greater Newport Soft Landing Partnership