Letter from the President & CEO | | |
Dear Rhode Island Life Science Community,
It’s an exciting moment for Rhode Island’s life sciences sector. Since stepping into this role in January, I’ve had the privilege of meeting with companies, innovators, researchers, and leaders across the state. The energy and commitment I've seen has only confirmed what I already knew—Rhode Island has the expertise and collaborative mindset to compete and succeed on a national and global scale.
The Rhode Island Life Science Hub continues to make bold investments to strengthen our ecosystem and drive economic growth. Most recently, the Life Science Hub was proud to award $450,000 in investments to advance programs serving life science entrepreneurs and technology advancement in Rhode Island—critical areas that will shape the future of our industry. Among the awardees are innovative organizations supporting the commercial development of cutting-edge medical devices, programs to train the next generation of talent, and initiatives supporting entrepreneurs and clinicians in the region. These investments are just the beginning —we also recently launched new funding opportunities to attract and engage companies, catalyze new product development, and cultivate collaboration across public, private, and academic institutions in Rhode Island. Please visit our website for available funding opportunities and updates.
Additionally, we are excited that Portal Innovations will manage the Ocean State Labs incubator, which is scheduled to open at the end of 2025. Portal is an organization that will help to support and fuel early-stage biotech and MedTech, and provide comprehensive project management to the site. More information on this below.
Looking ahead, preparations are underway to showcase Rhode Island's life sciences industry in front of a global audience at the 2025 BIO International Convention in Boston in June. This event will bring together industry leaders, researchers, and investors, and we are excited to spotlight the innovation that is taking place right in our own backyard.
These efforts are just the beginning of Rhode Island's new era of growth in the life sciences. Success is not just innovation—it’s the development of meaningful strategic relationships. My hope is these strategic relationships will help to accelerate the translation of medical technology in the region setting foundational capabilities.
We look forward to sharing more exciting news and developments in the near future. Thank you for your ongoing support and collaboration in developing the future of life sciences in Rhode Island.
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Dr. Mark A. Turco
President & CEO of the Rhode Island Life Science Hub
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R.I. Life Science Hub Backs Local Innovators with
$450K in Investments
| | The Rhode Island Life Science Hub has awarded $450,000 in funding to four organizations to strengthen Rhode Island’s life sciences sector by fostering entrepreneurship, supporting company expansion, and developing the workforce. | | |
Courage Builder (Tribe Academy) will receive $50,000 to support the creation of two new innovative STEM and career-focused programs using virtual reality technology for students. Courage Builder is an award-winning, Rhode Island-based startup focused on education, career, and professional development programs in high growth sectors. They have a strong focus on programs that remove barriers to entry and engage a broader community of students throughout the state.
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Nova Design will receive $50,000 to develop and pilot the Nova Ignite Program, which will support female founders developing products in the health and wellness and/or medical device field. Nova is a leading design, engineering, and research firm specializing in user-centric innovation and manufacturability, focusing on technologies in the field of health, wellness, medical devices, and consumer products.
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New England Medical Innovation Center (NEMIC) will receive $200,000 to scale its MedTech Leadership, Accelerator, Fee-for-Service Consulting, and Virtual Classroom programs. As a nonprofit, NEMIC supports MedTech and HealthTech innovators by providing expert mentorship for early-stage startup companies.
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RI Bio will receive $150,000 to support industry-relevant education through monthly workshops and lunch-and-learns, which will help startup companies and entrepreneurs navigate the commercialization of life science technology. It will also provide structured guidance for life science startups, including networking, clinical and regulatory assistance, to enhance industry engagement.
| “The Rhode Island Life Science Hub is proud to champion the work being done by our life science partners while creating new opportunities to develop and grow the state’s innovation ecosystem, workforce, and economy,” said Rhode Island Life Science Hub President and CEO Dr. Mark Turco. “These four recipients exemplify Rhode Island’s exceptional impact in educating and inspiring the next generation of individuals that will work to accelerate commercialization of cutting-edge biotechnologies, medical devices, and health care solutions through targeted programs that support entrepreneurship and industry collaboration.” | | New Funding Opportunities Available | | |
As part of our commitment to strengthening the state’s life science sector, the Rhode Island Life Science Hub is implementing new funding to attract new businesses, support existing partners, and foster industry growth. The programs include relocation support for out-of-state companies to establish operations in Rhode Island, funding to catalyze growth for Rhode Island companies, and targeted investments for life sciences businesses and manufacturers to support scaling and infrastructure.
New Funding Opportunities:
✅ New Business Attraction: Life science companies establishing a first-time presence in R.I.
✅Rhode Island Lift: R.I life science companies raising Pre-Seed, Seed and Series A capital
✅ Rhode Island Growth Catalyst: R.I. life science companies scaling operations and manufacturers expanding life science capabilities
✅Life Science Partner: Organizations fostering the growth of R.I.’s life sciences sector
Additional details and application information for these programs can be found on the RI Life Science Hub’s website.
| | Making Progress on Ocean State Labs, Now Powered by Portal | | |
Exciting progress continues at Ocean State Labs, where construction and planning efforts are moving forward to create a first-of-its kind, cutting-edge incubator for Rhode Island’s growing life sciences sector. In a new development, the Life Science Hub has selected Portal Innovations as the incubator’s operator. Portal, a national venture development firm with a strong track record in supporting early-stage biotech and MedTech startups, will provide critical industry expertise. With successful operations in Chicago, Atlanta, and Boston, Portal’s model will help accelerate the growth of Rhode Island’s life sciences ecosystem, equipping startups with the resources needed to succeed.
The Rhode Island Life Science Hub is working to establish Ocean State Labs, powered by Portal, as a vital part of the region’s life sciences ecosystem. In collaboration with project partners and industry experts, efforts are underway to define key research clusters, attract top talent and investment, and equip the space with specialized technology for high-impact research. By coordinating with state facilities at 150 Richmond Street, the team aims to provide access to essential equipment while ensuring the incubator meets the evolving needs of Rhode Island’s life sciences community.
Recently, Rhode Island Life Science Hub President and CEO Dr. Mark Turco and members of the RILSH team joined Dr. Kerry LaPlante, Dean of the University of Rhode Island's College of Pharmacy, for a tour of the 150 Richmond Street building. The visit highlighted opportunities for collaboration between the incubator and academic institutions, reinforcing a shared commitment to advancing life sciences research and innovation in Rhode Island.
The project continues to make steady progress, with more updates to come soon.
| | | | Renderings of the 150 Richmond Street building (left and above), the future home of Ocean State Labs. | | Preparing for BIO International Convention 2025 | | |
The 2025 BIO International Convention is set to take place June 16-19 in Boston, bringing together leaders from across the global biotechnology and life sciences industry. With attendees from over 70 countries, BIO is a key event for fostering collaboration, sharing innovations, and discussing the future of life sciences.
The Rhode Island Life Science Hub is preparing to showcase the state’s growing life sciences sector at the Rhode Island Pavilion. This space will serve as a gathering point for industry leaders, researchers, and innovators to connect and highlight Rhode Island’s contributions to the field.
As part of this effort, RILSH is offering opportunities for local companies and organizations to be featured at the Pavilion, providing a platform to gain visibility and engage with the global life sciences community. More details on sponsorships and participation are available below.
Save the Date! Join us for the Rhode Island Innovation Event on June 16 from 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM at the Envoy Hotel in Boston Seaport. Stay tuned for more details.
📅 June 16-19, 2025
📍 Boston Convention & Exhibition Center
🔗 Click here to learn more about the conference
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