RISE-UP:
Explore Innovation
for Dual Use* Solutions
*Dual Use = For Commercial and Military Applications
Advancing Innovation Through Strategic University Collaboration
RISE-UP (Regional Innovation by Scaling Entrepreneurship via University Partnerships) is a tri-state initiative led by the University of Alaska Fairbanks (via Center ICE), the University of Hawai’i, and the University of Rhode Island (via the URI Research Foundation). Since 2022, this collaboration has focused on addressing the shared economic and geographic challenges of Alaska, Hawai’i, and Rhode Island—states characterized relatively by geographic isolation, small populations (less than 1 million), a brain drain of talented students, and a high dependence on imports.
By leveraging complementary expertise in marine and energy technologies, RISE-UP fosters applied research, workforce development, and technology commercialization to strengthen innovation-driven economies. In partnership with government, industry, and local communities, RISE-UP is building a foundation for long-term regional resilience and national competitiveness through interdisciplinary collaboration and capacity-building in critical sectors.
What Sets RISE-UP Apart?
Tailored Innovation Training: We equip students, researchers, and professionals with the skills to address real-world challenges in harsh and dynamic environments.
Graduate & Postdoctoral Fellowships: Our fellowships support entrepreneurial projects and innovative research, providing tuition assistance, stipends, and hands-on mentorship to foster next-generation leaders.
Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Through ideation studios, testbed opportunities, and cross-sector partnerships, we connect diverse talent to solve local problems and scale ideas for broader impact
Community Impact: Focused on sustainable, future-proof solutions, working to build resilient economies and create new job opportunities across the state
Why RISE-UP?
Bridging the Gap:
We connect academia to customers and industry to accelerate the translation of innovative ideas into scalable products, services, and business ventures.
Helping Innovators:
Whether you’re a student, faculty researcher, and/or community entrepreneur, RISE-UP equips you with the tools, mentorship, and resources needed to navigate the commercialization journey.
Strengthening Communities:
By addressing challenges like supply-chain barriers and under-utilized ocean economic opportunities, we’re building a sustainable workforce and maritime dual-use solutions.
Who Should Get Involved?
- Innovators & Entrepreneurs: Bring your cutting-edge ideas to life with access to mentorship, seed funding, and a vibrant network.
- Faculty & Researchers: Leverage our platform to commercialize your discoveries and foster an entrepreneurial ecosystem.
- Industry Leaders: Collaborate with academic experts to tap into the next generation of dual-use technologies and talent.
- Students: Gain hands-on experience, grow your network, and turn bold ideas into real-world solutions with support every step of the way.
Our Pillars of Innovation
- Patents2Products: Transforming intellectual property into market-ready innovations.
- Innovation Faculty Fellows: Helping educators to integrate entrepreneurship into their curricula and lead real-world change.
- Ideation Studio: Sparking interdisciplinary collaboration to generate breakthrough solutions.
- Tech Transfer: Ensuring that university-generated research is protected, marketed, and licensed effectively to accelerate startup growth.
- Pathways to Innovation and Entrepreneurship for Defense: A semester-long, credit-bearing, real-life problem-solving, sprint-like class translating needs to technical specifications, concept generation and down-selection, specification refinement, functional prototyping, testing, and redesign.
Expand Your Innovation Journey
RISE-UP Rhode Island
Experience how our Rhode Island branch fuels innovation at the intersection of coastal resilience, advanced manufacturing, and the blue economy. From urban hubs to shoreline communities, we’re fostering inclusive growth and regional transformation in the Ocean State.
RISE-UP Alaska
Discover how our Alaska branch leverages cutting-edge research and tailored programs to address Arctic and frontier challenges. Explore initiatives that drive sustainable economic growth and resilience in the Last Frontier.
RISE-UP Hawaii
Dive into the world of ocean-centric innovation. Learn how our Hawaii branch harnesses the region’s unparalleled maritime environment to pioneer breakthroughs in the blue economy and environmental stewardship.
Explore our regional hubs and see how RISE-UP is building resilient, innovative futures from coast to coast
Resilient, Innovative, Sustainable Economies
Funded by the U.S. Office of Naval Research (ONR), and in affiliation with the University of Rhode Island, the RISE-UP (Resilient, Innovative, Sustainable Economies via University Partnerships) initiative is designed to bridge the gap between ideation, innovation, and market success. By focusing on key sectors, RISE-UP prepares participants to tackle current challenges and drive innovation in fields like marine technology and energy. Additionally, it fosters collaboration between universities, industries, and communities, ensuring that the solutions developed are both resilient and sustainable..