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47 

 Appendix IV.H. ^ i 



Title: Ocean Technology Center (A NSF Sponsored Industry-University Cooperative Research 

 Center) 



Issue: The Ocean Technology Center structure offers its members opportunities to direct 

 research in marine-relevant areas of interest that may be applied (but not limited) to such end 

 uses as the development of new products and services. It also provides a forum for 

 exchanging ideas among the members and access to university faculty and facilities that can 

 address specific technical problems. 



Relevemce and Background: Although the Center is relatively new (October 1993), it builds on 

 a tradition of marine system development at the University of Rhode Island. Expertise in areas 

 such as acoustical ocean mapping and environmental monitoring systems present 

 opportunities for transfer from a cold war military mission to changing federal and private 

 sector markets. An Industrial Advisory Board made up of Center members directs research 

 topics to ensure that they are relevant to this marketplace. 



Partners: National Science foundation. Naval Oceanographic Office, US Geological Survey, 

 Pacific Marine Geology Branch, Naval Underwater Warfare Center, Raytheon, Datasonics, Inc., 

 SEA CORP, SeaBeam, Applied Science Associates. 



Motivating Factor: The Ocean Technology Center was developed to address common areas of 

 interest between the industrial/federal laboratory/university communities in marine-related 

 technologies. Members have access to all results of Center-sponsored research and may obtain 

 exclusive rights to intellectual property. 



Products: During its first year of operation, the Center launched five projects. One project will 

 develop a communications and display network to support coastal environmental monitoring, 

 while another is investigating the properties of "acoustic bullets." An underwater winch 

 system developed during the first seven months of the Centers' existence promises to become 

 its first success story. 



Impact or Benefit: The objective of the Ocean Technology Center is to offer its expertise in 

 marine technology to appropriate public and private sector interests that will create 

 opportunities for the development of new products, services and technologies. 



Lessons Learned: Greater industrial involvement is needed as the Center goes forward. 

 Research direction initially was proposed by academics and disposed by the Industrial 

 Advisory Board. Flexibility in the program will allow changes to the structure. In fact, efforts 

 are underway to modify the process of research direction. Additional financial and technical 

 resources can be included to define new markets and assist in getting from product concept to 

 market particularly for smaller industrial members. 



Opportunity: The Ocean Technology Center can be used as a mechanism to launch marine 

 technology related initiatives that can benefit the overall economic development of Rhode 

 Island and the region. 



