Southern New England stands at an inflection point. The region’s century-long legacy of undersea dominance, anchored by the Naval War College, NUWC, UWDC, Electric Boat, and a dense constellation of research institutions and maritime innovators has positioned Rhode Island and its neighbors as the nation’s most concentrated and capable hub for naval and dual-use technology.
Polaris Tech Bridge unveiled a working draft of the Southern New England Defense and Dual-Use Technology Ecosystem Report at the 2026 Blue Innovation Symposium in Newport, Rhode Island, on February 10. This report describes Rhode Island’s role, potential, opportunities, and vision for Maritime Innovation.
Version 2 released July 2026.