A group of defense companies and local universities have announced a new partnership aimed at creating a hub for undersea technology. Dubbed the Undersea Technology Innovation Center, the project is still in the early stages.
It will be organized by the Southeastern New England Defense Industry Alliance, which has announced partners including the University of Rhode Island, the Navy and Salve Regina University. SENEDIA spokeswoman Molly Magee says the center would provide a hub for marine and defense technology.
“You could be looking at submarines, looking at unmanned vehicles, but unmanned vehicles also have a commercial application,” said Magee. “There are applications for ocean mapping, ocean engineering, underwater acoustics.”
Magee cites the state’s already strong marine tech industry and says the group has already identified more than 100 companies that could join the new center.
“What we’re looking at is pulling it together, so we can make sure we can provide an integrated place where companies can come where they can share resources, they can share high-end test equipment,” said Magee.
SENEDIA plans to eventually seek federal, state and private funding, and the groups hopes to build a physical center with research laboratories.
