Leading Edge R&D Resources at Your Fingertips
Whether you need help integrating new technology or are interested in locating or developing new technology to move your business forward, Polaris MEP can help.
Polaris MEP provides hands-on technical and business assistance and functions as an extension of your staff, helping you to maximize your capabilities.
Through our partnership with URI and a variety of academic, public and private resources, we help you grow your business by injecting technological advances, product innovations, and process improvements that deliver high value and keep you globally competitive.
Innovation has been the driving force for many of the fantastic products made in Rhode Island. Composites heading for space, textiles catching aircraft, military pins for those protecting our country, defibrillators and superfoods to name just a few.
Christian Cowan
URI Research Foundation
Your Biggest Challenges Solved
Grow Sales
Market Competitiveness
Standards Compliance
How We Help
UPGRADE READINESS
Frustrated by the lack of connectivity or communication with your business systems? Polaris MEP can help you
- evaluate your current processes and practices,
- choose systems (ERP, CRM, automation) for data collection and analysis, and
- improve inventory management and process flow.
DRIVING ACTION
R&D can make the difference between dominating your industry and getting left behind. We can assist you in creating a strategic plan to focus on R&D while minimizing risk.
This includes improving systems to review testing data, to detect and develop promising technology faster.
IDEA DISCOVERY & COMMERCIALIZATION
Leverage the expertise that can transform your business.
Polaris MEP can connect you to regional universities / federal labs that may have research to position your company for success in the global Manufacturing 4.0 environment. We also can evaluate your industrial processes to identify areas for innovation, and connect you with state programs to bring ideas to reality.
INNOVATOR CONNECTIONS
Polaris MEP partners with university and government labs to match early stage developers with local supply chain partners (particularly manufacturers) who specialize in prototyping and low volume production runs.
Polaris MEP’s parent (URI Research Foundation) and sister (401 Tech Bridge) organizations offer additional connections.
Connecting Manufacturers with World Class Researchers
- Connect to resources and inventors to develop next-generation products for your customers
- Collaborate on innovative concepts and stay ahead of your competition
- Diversify your product line to serve broader markets
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I’m bullish on Rhode Island manufacturing, but even more on the innovative manufacturers behind it.
Christian Cowan
Center Director, Polaris MEP
Category: Technology Acceleration
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The 2025 report combines multiple sources, including industry trend analysis, the Voice of Manufacturing Survey (VOMS), and insights from manufacturers, policymakers, and community leaders.




