Polaris MEP, focused on manufacturing, and the newly renamed Polaris Tech Bridge, focused on defense, dual-Rhode Island has a long history in the blue economy. For hundreds of years, locals made their fortunes by fishing or by boatbuilding. This has since evolved into building submarines and developing energy solutions by creating offshore wind technology.
The blue economy supports roughly 36,000 jobs in Rhode Island alone and contributes approximately $5 billion annually to the state’s gross domestic product. In addition, with security threats from countries such as China and Russia, maritime technology has become even more integral to the United States, and therefore one of Rhode Island’s best opportunity for sustained, exponential economic growth for future decades.
What makes Rhode Island such a perfect location? Geography and existing world-class institutions. If the correct growth strategies are utilized and the focus is put into workforce development to train the next generation of manufacturers, we can continue to use Rhode Island’s uniqueness to push boundaries and innovate further.
Read more about what Christian Cowan, Executive Director of Polaris MEP and Polaris Tech Bridge, shared with the Boston Globe here.
