401 Tech Bridges launches Materials Innovation Challenge

401 Tech Bridge (Portsmouth, R.I., U.S.) announced on Sept. 22 its new Materials Innovation Challenge. The competitive program offers businesses the opportunity to leverage academic resources such as research, validation and testing to accelerate the development of advanced materials and technologies.

The funding provided by the 401 Tech Bridge Materials Innovation Challenge is designed to pilot innovative new ways to support the commercialization of technology, products and processes. This includes the ability to collaborate with University of Rhode Island (URI) Professors Arun Shukla, Sumanta Das or Helio Matos — three individuals who are said to be the preeminent researchers of advanced materials in the country — to explore new opportunities or solve existing problems.

“URI has virtually unlimited potential as far as faculty, students and research tools to perform truly ground-breaking advanced materials research. A lot of these resources are not currently available to companies, especially smaller ones, so they can really benefit from this opportunity,” says Katherine Flynn, executive director of the University of Rhode Island Business Engagement Center. “At the same time, the students get to see their research ideas come to life in real-world applications.”

401 Tech Bridge says it serves as a super-connector for companies that are developing leading-edge advanced materials, technologies and products; governmental organizations and major corporations with funded projects that call for advanced materials and technologies; and the region’s academic institutions who have related knowledge base and research capabilities. By facilitating these connections and collaboration throughout its network, 401 Tech Bridge notes that it acts as a one-stop resource to help companies accelerate the journey from concept to prototype to commercialization while making the transfer of technology faster, easier and more collaborative.

“There are incredible resources and talent available in the state of Rhode Island. 401 Tech Bridge helps fill a critical gap to enable academia to collaborate with commercial entities and government partners,” says Mary Johnson, manager of 401 Tech Bridge. “This includes bringing people together that not only understand the technology, but how to successfully bring a product to market.”

The 401 Tech Bridge Materials Innovation Challenge is supported by Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) National Network, NIST National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), URI Business Engagement Center, URI College of Engineering and URI Ventures. During the application process, companies will identify a need related to the development of a new or improved material, product or process and collaborate with the University of Rhode Island’s Dynamic Photomechanics Laboratory or the Multiscale and Multiphysics Mechanics of Materials Research Laboratory to develop a scope of work encompassing expertise, equipment and services.

The application period is currently open and closes on October 26. Awarded projects will begin in early 2021. Innovators, business and technical leads from companies with an interest in advanced materials research are invited to apply. Applicants do not need to be Rhode Island-based or of a certain size to submit. Those that are interested in learning more are encouraged to view this informational webinar.