“RI Tech and Innovation Report”— URI Inno, EB Momentum, and Combatting Brain Drain
Rebecca Keister, Tech Contributor
“RI Tech and Innovation Report”— URI Inno, EB Momentum, and Combatting Brain Drain
URI has named Linnell Bickford, a veteran fundraiser in the nonprofit and higher education sectors, as its first-ever director of development for emerging technologies and innovation.
Bickford’s appointment came just a couple of months after the school announced that private investment in RI Innovation Campus projects—also supported by a voter-approved bond—is expected to surpass $122 million.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTShe’ll be tasked with raising money to support initiatives through the innovation hub—in the university libraries and the Alan Shawn Feinstein College of Education and Professional Studies. Focus will be on big data and data science, data analytics, technologically enhanced classrooms, virtual reality labs and artificial intelligence.
Only for GoLocalProv, Bickford spoke about her role and what URI is doing to prepare its students for the future.
GLP: Why is the timing right to create this position?
Bickford: URI is committed to producing the workforce for this new technology-driven environment. Technology drives everything we do and companies are seeking talented candidates who have the skill set to succeed. This position was created to find support among our alumni, friends and community.
GLP: What will be your immediate focus?
Bickford: Listening and learning. The foundation created this position in response to university fundraising priorities. I will be reaching out….for feedback and advice on how we can be best the resource for our students, faculty, alumni and community.
GLP: What’s the state of affairs of URI’s ability to provide students with access to technologies they will need to be successful young professionals?
Bickford: A new state-of-the-art engineering facility and the Innovation Hub are just two examples of how URI is laser-focused on educating the workforce of the future. We the first (artificial intelligence) lab based in the university library. (Our) facilities encourage collaborative, multidisciplinary learning and research.
GLP: What will be your biggest challenge?
Bickford: We don’t have our own alumni based for innovation initiatives, so collaborating with my colleagues and accessing their existing networks will be essential. We also…have been joined by (a) senior director of prospect development & information strategy (who) will analyze our database to identify alumni who are in the start-up, entrepreneurial ecosystem, giving me a great starting point.
GLP: Where does your passions for technology, innovation, and higher education come from?
Bickford: I have always been fascinated by technology and an early adopter. My son is an engineer at Electric Boat and my daughter, while currently a ballet dancer, has her degree in environmental science. I’m a lifelong learner and would love to just be a permanent student. My first two jobs in higher-ed fundraising were in engineering schools. It’s a constantly changing and I find that energizing.
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RI Tech and Innovation Report - March 27, 2019
Keeping the momentum going
Speaking of Electric Boat, the company was just awarded a $2 billion U.S. Navy contract modification to support construction of Block V Virginia-class submarines, bringing the contract awarded in 2017 value to $3.2 billion. President Jeffrey S. Geiger said in a release that his team “will continue to produce the world’s most technologically advanced submarines, safely and efficiently.”
Keeping talent in state
Rhode Island’s so-called brain drain plagues all of our economic sectors, but emerging sciences and technologies are particularly affected. So, it’s nice to see young talent succeeding. Met E-Center freshmen Adam Salem and Enzo Battaglia recently placed first with their business Empower Confidence at the Youth Entrepreneurship Summit. It’d be even nicer to see students continue to learn—and eventually live and work—here.
Ladies choice
Tech Collective female members should rush to sign up for Women in Tech: DELTA Leaders Series—Developing Emerging Leaders in Tech to Advance—focusing on professional development in communication, competency, credibility and connections. Training is held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. across four Thursdays starting April 2.
Projects to watch
The RI Science & Technology Advisory Council has announced its 2019 grant awardees whose proposals addressed assessing resilience, innovation, engagement and sustainability. Narragansett Bay will be getting some attention from projects centered on “understanding hwo climate drives disease outbreaks” and “quantifying wet and dry deposition of ammonium to Narragansett Bay.”
Award Alert
Congrats to Warren-based AVTECH Software for having its Room Alert environment monitoring platform named a “2018 Network Security Excellence Award Winner’ by INTERNET TELPHONY Magazine. Room Alert monitors environment conditions such as flood and smoke and its used in 186 countries by businesses including Microsoft as well as the United Nations and local governments.
