PROVIDENCE, RI – Rhode Island’s Congressional delegation today announced that the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) is awarding a team of academic researchers led by the University of Rhode Island (URI) $8 million through the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) Collaborations for Optimizing Research Ecosystems Research Infrastructure Improvement Program (E-CORE RII). 

EPSCOR is designed to fulfill NSF’s mandate to promote scientific progress nationwide.  Through the program, NSF establishes partnerships with government, higher education, and industry that are designed to effect lasting improvements in a state's or region's academic research infrastructure, research and development (R&D) capacity, and hence, its national R&D competitiveness.

The new federal EPSCoR funds will go to the Rhode Island Network for Excellence in Science and Technology (RI-NEST), which is a partnership of several Ocean State universities and colleges, including URI, Rhode Island College, Brown University, Roger Williams University, and Rhode Island School of Design (RISD).  By leveraging partnerships with diverse institutions and organizations, the project will boost collaboration, education, and workforce development initiatives in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (fields collectively known as STEM) across the Ocean State.

Over the next four years, the RI-NEST team will utilize the unique capacities of its partner institutions -- including Rhode Island’s position as a national leader in the Blue Economy and oceanographic space – to support workforce development, catalyze research partnerships, strengthen science translation, and administer broad, inclusive, and coordinated science and technology activity across Rhode Island.

“This is a win for Rhode Island students, researchers, and future economic growth.  This federal investment will help local researchers advance scientific discovery, innovation, and education while strengthening our research pipeline and bolstering the state’s research ecosystem.  This federal funding will help RI-NEST turn promising ideas and collaborative research into action and generate new workforce development opportunities,” said Senator Jack Reed, a member of the Appropriations Committee, who brought NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan to Rhode Island last year to meet with Ocean State researchers and tour EPSCoR progress at URI.  Reed has led efforts to ensure Rhode Island’s EPSCoR eligibility since 2004, and now Rhode Island’s current percentage of NSF funding is one of the highest of EPSCoR-eligible states.  With this latest award, Rhode Island has now received over $100 million in EPSCOR funding since 2004 for collaborative research projects.

“Once again, the National Science Foundation is recognizing Rhode Island’s world-class universities and colleges for teaming up to lead cutting-edge STEM research and innovation,” said Senator Sheldon Whitehouse.  “I’m pleased to support this federal investment in research, education, and workforce development which will support Rhode Island workers and boost the Ocean State economy.”

“These federal funds will allow Rhode Island colleges to support STEM education and research partnerships throughout the state while generating new opportunities for working people,” said Representative Seth Magaziner. “This is a great step in ensuring Rhode Island continues to be a national leader in the Blue Economy.”

“Investing in research and development is an integral part of maintaining Rhode Island’s edge as a leader in the blue economy,” said Congressman Gabe Amo, a member of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. “I am excited this $8 million award from the National Science Foundation will empower researchers from the University of Rhode Island to blaze new trails and unlock new breakthroughs in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.”

”As Rhode Island’s flagship public research university, the University of Rhode Island is collaborating with partner institutions across the state to advance vital initiatives in STEM-related education and workforce development,” said Bethany D. Jenkins, URI's Vice President for Research and Economic Development. “Rhode Island has a unique and robust research ecosystem built through years of EPSCoR collaborations, and funding through the new RI-NEST EPSCoR award will enhance research infrastructure; build capacity for investigator expertise, leading to sustained research, education and public engagement partnerships; and develop pathways to broaden the participation of students and institutions from across Rhode Island.”

EPSCoR awards are made through merit-based proposal reviews and are designed to ensure competitive U.S. research dollars reach diverse geographic areas, including smaller states like Rhode Island. 

EPSCoR-eligible states include: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming.