252 



designate aquaculture areas in State waters where usage will require minimal 

 permitting. We are also currently looking at using a surplus military base at Quonset 

 Point Davisville to determine if it can be used to support land based aquaculture. 

 These partnerships will provide the environment in which entrepreneurs, industry, 

 researchers, and government can foster the exchange of information and eliminate 

 overlap. During the next decade, aquacuhure is expected to remain among the top ten 

 growth industries in the US and is currently the Nation's fastest growing agricultural 

 business. Therefore, it is only logical that we continue to support marine research, 

 development, and technology transfer to harness the benefits that this high potential 

 high yield market offers. An overall strategy should emphasize marketing and 

 economics to focus on researching fiuther market potential as well as technology 

 development focused on innovations in production technology, engineering, diseases, 

 processing, and pollution prevention. One last important element of an efficient 

 strategy is that the extension education for current and potential aquaculturists and 

 educational extension services aimed at educating the pubhc receive continued 

 support. 



A unique potential to address these issues lies within our borders. The Rhode 

 Island Economic Policy Council has funded the University of Rhode Island's Ocean 

 Technology Center to develop a concept plan for an Ocean Technology Research 

 Center for Excellence. The goal is to establish a world-class organization of specific 

 technology competency that demonstrates a direct economic benefit through university 

 and private sector collaboration that results in commercial appUcations of the 

 technology. Specific Goals of the program are as follows: 



It will, 



• Be driven by market forces, private sector competencies and institutional research 

 skills. 



• Leverage State dollars to attract industry and federal research funds. 



• Increase Rhode Island's "opportunity share"' in the realm of new industries, ideas, and 

 products. 



• Increase the role of research and technology in the Rhode Island Economy. 



The concept plan will be a business plan for the initial startup of the Center and 

 will include strategies for developing key skills, intellectual assets and specific 

 technologies in areas which have potential economic benefit for Rhode Island. The 

 Council has asked that each proposal include alliances and joint research projects 

 between Rhode Island businesses and universities as well as other non-profit 

 institutions including Federal research centers. One of the principle collaborators with 

 the Ocean Technology Center is the Naval Underwater Warfare Center. 



These programs will provide the interactive mechanisms allowing for increased 

 opportunities in oceanographic technology transfer. National agencies will be better 

 related to and therefore better able to respond to regional research and development 

 needs. By supporting this exchange of information, regional technology developers 

 and users can help define the national research agenda. 



