The NavalX Tech Bridges are a connected network under the operational guidance of the Assistance Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition. NavalX Tech Bridges enhance collaboration among Naval Labs, industry, academia and other military branches. Each Tech Bridge is centered around a distinct geographic area, and specializes in specific technology focus areas. One of these national tech bridge entities is the Northeast Tech Bridge whose focus areas are Ocean Sciences: Maritime Composites and Textiles, Undersea Vehicles, Undersea Sensors, and Undersea Technologies. The Northeast Tech Bridge is based out of the Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division Newport and serves the New England States, New York, New Jersey and Puerto Rico.
The 401 Tech Bridge, a non-profit organization based in Rhode Island, is the partnership intermediary organization for the Northeast Tech Bridge, establishing best practices for public/private partnerships that support and focus on the businesses and economies of the region. The 401 Tech Bridge functions as the nucleus of the NavalX Northeast Tech Bridge. They focus ontechnologies that are prevalent in our region, most of which are common with the Northeast Tech Bridge focus areas. Additionally they support the production and manufacturing associated with these technologies.
The 401 Tech Bridge’s mission is to support companies in their journey to accelerate technology from concept to prototype to scale by connecting them to commercial and defense opportunities. As an organization focused on economic development for Rhode Island and the region, 401 Tech Bridge facilitates collaboration across industry, government and academia and leverages the resources and expertise of its vibrant advanced materials and technology ecosystem, which spans industries and activities ranging from infrastructure development and naval research to oceanographic and offshore wind enterprises. The 401 Tech Bridge Center for Advanced Materials and Technology, due to open in early 2022, offers meeting, training, lab and equipment space for industry, government and academic partners to collaboratively problem-solve, develop concepts, and build, test and present solutions.
401 Tech Bridge and the Northeast Tech Bridge are both intensely focused on collaboration, knowledge sharing and innovation with technology companies and partners to accelerate development and transition of solutions. Both initiatives are focused on technologies coming out of small businesses, entrepreneurs and startups that have potential to address mission critical needs with novel technologies and solutions. While the Northeast Tech Bridge has a keen eye on solutions that benefit our warfighters, 401 Tech Bridge has a broader interest in solutions that grow the economy, nurture our regional business community, generate jobs and opportunities, evolve our STEM workforce as well as those solutions that benefit national defense needs.