RISE UP: Empowering University Faculty & Student Entrepreneurs to bring Dual-Use Innovations to Market
Empowering Faculty and Student Entrepreneurs to Turn Ideas into Real-World Impact
We are RISE UP, a tri-state initiative uniting Rhode Island, Alaska, and Hawai‘i, connecting education, research, and industry to accelerate ideas into real-world defense and commercial impact. Our mission: to help you channel your expertise, creativity, and ambition into solutions that strengthen communities and fuel economic growth.
Whether you’re in Providence, Anchorage, or Honolulu, we empower student and faculty entrepreneurs, and regional partners to advance dual-use technologies that serve both civilian and defense needs.
Our Mission & Vision
We are driven by a vision of collaborative innovation. Our mission is to accelerate the translation of ideas into solutions that serve both local communities and national priorities.
We do this by breaking barriers between research and industry, fostering a culture of innovation, and helping you access the resources needed to scale your work.
Our Story
Selected by the Office of Naval Research to strengthen economies in each state, Rhode Island, Alaska, and Hawai‘i, have seen firsthand how academic institutions and entrepreneurs can collaborate to create meaningful impact.
Our programs were built to help students, faculty members, or innovators at any stage, find a pathway from concept to commercialization.
Meet The Team Behind RISE UP
Our team spans all three states, bringing together leaders from academia, industry, and government, united by one goal: empowering you to innovate. With expertise in technology transfer, entrepreneurship, and research management, we work closely with our partners to ensure every idea has the opportunity to grow.
University Innovation Programs Driving Change
Universities are where bold ideas take shape and discovery begins. RISE UP partners with leading institutions in Rhode Island, Alaska, and Hawai’i to make it happen. Our programs and courses centered on innovation make it easier for your ideas to move beyond the classroom or lab.
From mentorship and commercialization support to training that sharpens your entrepreneurial edge, we help you transform research into lasting impact.
To make that possible, we’ve built a set of programs designed to guide you at every stage of the innovation journey, from early ideas to market-ready solutions. These include:
Ideation Studio
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Pathways to Innovation & Entrepreneurship↗
Innovation Faculty Fellows
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Tech Transfer
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Patents2Products
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Academic Innovation Initiatives That Empower Discovery
Our academic innovation initiatives give you the tools and partnerships to explore bold new directions in science, technology, and engineering. We foster collaboration across campuses and connect you with resources that help your projects gain visibility and traction.
Dual-Use Technology Development For Real-World Impact
Innovation has the greatest value when it serves more than one purpose. That’s why we specialize in dual-use technology development, supporting research and projects that advance both commercial and defense applications.
What makes RISE UP uniquely positioned to do this is the shared landscape of our three partner states. Rhode Island, Alaska, and Hawai‘i each sit at the intersection of ocean, climate, energy, defense, and remote-operations challenges. The very environments where dual-use solutions are most urgently needed.
Commercial And Defense Innovation That Translates Research Into Solutions
Our commercial and defense innovation efforts ensure your discoveries meet the needs of multiple sectors. We help you navigate technology transfer for research, providing strategic support to secure intellectual property, test real-world feasibility, and attract industry partners.
It’s how we move ideas from potential to progress.
Building A Strong Regional Innovation Ecosystem
We believe innovation thrives when local talent meets regional opportunity. RISE UP builds regional innovation ecosystems that bring together universities, businesses, and government partners to create shared success.
Each state in our network plays a vital role: Rhode Island anchors our advanced manufacturing and ocean tech capabilities, Alaska drives Arctic and cold-climate innovation, and Hawai’i leads in maritime research and Indo-Pacific partnerships.
State-Based Innovation Networks That Strengthen Communities
Our state-based innovation networks are the foundation of everything we do. By investing in innovation partnerships, we ensure that local programs lead to national impact, driving defense and workforce development, technology growth, and sustainable regional economies
When you join RISE UP, you join an experienced community where your ideas can thrive… Right where they matter most.
Partner With Us To Drive Innovation
Your vision can make a difference and we’re here to help you make it happen. RISE UP brings together three universities across Rhode Island, Alaska, and Hawai‘i, forming a network with deep strengths in innovation, technology development, and commercialization.
We partner with groups who want to shape the future of dual-use innovation, including:
- Industry leaders seeking access to research talent, emerging technologies, and regional testbeds
- Faculty and researchers developing solutions with commercial or defense potential
- Students and early-career innovators looking for pathways into entrepreneurship
- Government and community partners addressing local and national challenges
No matter your starting point, you’ll find a clear reason to participate: access to top university expertise, support for technology transfer, mentorship in entrepreneurship, insight into intellectual property strategy, and a collaborative network designed to accelerate innovation.
Let’s work together to strengthen our innovation landscape, one region at a time.