URI Coastal Institute

What URI Coastal Institute does

URI Coastal Institute (CI) is an interdisciplinary research unit within the University of Rhode Island that operates as a coordination hub for coastal sustainability science and policy, rather than a product company. Founded to serve Rhode Island as a model coastal state, CI advances research across stormwater management, climate response, fisheries management, ecosystem restoration, and environmental emergency response. Its core offerings consist of grant programs (Catalyst Grants of $1,000–$5,000, Leveraging Grants of $1,000–$15,000, Grants-in-Aid returning up to one-third of overhead to Senior Fellows, and Collaborative Grants where CI serves as co-PI on federal proposals), a Senior Fellows Network of over 200 scholars and practitioners, the Emerging Coastal Leaders graduate program, the SSEER environmental emergency response MOU with the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, and its host role for the North Atlantic Coast Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (NAC-CESU). CI runs 26 active initiatives and projects and distributes its funding through a community-led model.

The institute's underlying platform is institutional rather than technological: it combines a research-community governance structure (183 Senior Fellows produced 138 funded proposals in FY2019), a federally-designated distribution channel (NAC-CESU linking 9 federal agencies, 1 tribal partner, and 28 non-federal partners), and a public-university administrative back-end that channels donations through the URI Foundation & Alumni Engagement (a 501(c)(3)). Revenue mechanics are entirely grant-based and non-commercial: CI administers federal, state, and private grants (NIH, NSF, NOAA, and other agencies), retains a share of overhead from funded proposals, and distributes the majority of its budget (more than 30%) back to projects and grant recipients. Customer segments are split between federal and state government agencies (RI DEM, NPS, USGS, USFWS, EPA), URI faculty and graduate students (Senior Fellows and Emerging Coastal Leaders), and Rhode Island coastal communities (via partnerships with The Nature Conservancy, the Stormwater Innovation Center, and the City of Providence Parks Department). The institute also operates internationally, notably through the Fish Right Program in the Philippines addressing illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. With only 7 core staff, CI is a small administrative unit leveraging a much larger affiliated network and parent-university infrastructure.

Name

URI Coastal Institute

Legal name

University of Rhode Island Coastal Institute

Website

https://ci.uri.edu

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

URI Coastal Institute is a University of Rhode Island research unit that coordinates interdisciplinary coastal sustainability science, administering grants and partnerships for 183+ Senior Fellows, federal agencies, and Rhode Island communities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Research Services

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (54162)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAIAMAI

Coastal & Marine Resources Administration (Oceans, Fisheries, Shorelines)

Business & Public Services/Public Sector & Government Administration/Environmental Protection & Natural Resources Administration

SECONDARYBPADALAI

Oceans, Coastal & Marine Resource Management

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/Climate, Environment & Sustainable Development Programs

Keywords

• Coastal research
• Marine ecosystem science
• Environmental emergency response
• Fisheries management
• Climate adaptation research

Headquarters

HQ city

Narragansett

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Grant Funding: Federal, state, and private grant funding through organizations including NIH, NSF, NOAA, and various federal agencies. CI allocates limited funding for proposal development and facilitates team collaboration.
2. Catalyst Grants: Small grants ($1,000-$5,000) to jump-start research projects with anticipation of major proposals. Provides initial support for coastal ecosystem management research.
3. Leveraging Grants: Grants ($1,000-$15,000) that add value to funded projects by bringing in speakers, expanding research breadth, or enhancing communication outputs.
4. Grants-in-Aid: Funding available to Senior Fellows with funded CI proposals, approximately up to one-third of overhead returned from their funded proposals. Must be requested by May 1st and spent by June 1st.
5. Donations: Tax-deductible donations managed by URI Foundation & Alumni Engagement (501(c)(3)), supporting emerging coastal leaders and coastal researchers.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The URI Coastal Institute is an interdisciplinary research institute within the University of Rhode Island that coordinates coastal research, environmental science, and sustainability initiatives. It administers internal grant programs (Catalyst, Leveraging, Grants-In-Aid, Collaborative Grants) to fund URI researchers, maintains a network of 200+ Senior Fellows, hosts the North Atlantic Coast CESU federal partnership, operates the SSEER environmental emergency response service for RI DEM, and supports graduate students through the Emerging Coastal Leaders Program.

Product overview

The URI Coastal Institute is a research institute within the University of Rhode Island that operates as a coordination hub for coastal research rather than a product company. Its core offerings include grant programs (Catalyst Grants, Leveraging Grants, Grants-In-Aid, and Collaborative Grants) that fund interdisciplinary coastal research, the Senior Fellows Network of over 200 researchers, the Emerging Coastal Leaders Program for graduate student development, the SSEER emergency response service for environmental incidents, and partnership hosting for the North Atlantic Coast CESU. These programs work together to advance coastal sustainability research, foster collaboration among scholars and practitioners, and support the next generation of coastal science leaders.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SSEER: Scientific Support for Environmental Emergency Response - assists the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management in assessment, reduction, or remediation of threats to public health and safety and the environment.
• Emerging Coastal Leaders (ECL) Program
• North Atlantic Coast CESU

Products and services

• Catalyst Grants Small grants ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 awarded to jump-start research projects or collaborative enterprises focused on coastal ecosystem management, with the anticipation of major proposal submissions following this support. Targeted at URI researchers and Senior Fellows.
• Leveraging Grants Grants ranging from $1,000 to $15,000 that add value to funded projects by bringing in speakers, adding breadth to research, or enhancing communication outputs. Used by URI researchers to expand impact of existing funded projects.
• Grants-In-Aid Funding available to CI Senior Fellows with funded CI proposals who are also URI employees, providing up to one-third of overhead returned to the Coastal Institute. Requests must be made by May 1st and spent by June 1st.
• Collaborative Grants CI serves as co-PI on grant proposals through federal agencies, enhancing competitiveness through science communication expertise, social equity considerations, and collaborative methodologies. Targeted at URI researchers pursuing federal funding.
• Senior Fellows Network An interdisciplinary community of over 200 scholars and practitioners dedicated to advancing coastal sustainability through collaboration, funding opportunities, and mentorship. Open to URI-affiliated scholars across environmental science, policy, engineering, and community engagement.
• Emerging Coastal Leaders (ECL) Program Two-year award program for URI graduate students from interdisciplinary backgrounds pursuing careers in coastal, marine, and estuarine science and management, offering mentorship, networking, and a $750 award. Launched in 2023.
• SSEER (Scientific Support for Environmental Emergency Response) A response mechanism defined by MOU with RI Department of Environmental Management that enables quick activation of URI resources for environmental emergencies, threats to public health and safety, and environmental remediation. Established in 2012.
• North Atlantic Coast CESU Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit hosted by URI connecting 9 federal agencies, 1 tribal partner, and 28 non-federal partners to address coastal resource management challenges. Established in 1999.

Quantifiable outcome

• 183 Senior Fellows contributing to coastal research
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• National Park Service (NPS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1999Federal agency partner in the North Atlantic Coast CESU. NPS scientists are duty-stationed at URI, providing collaborative research opportunities and funding access focused on coastal management challenges.
• U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1999Federal agency partner providing scientific expertise and collaborative research on ecosystem studies. USGS scientists work alongside URI researchers on critical coastal studies.
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1999Federal agency partner in NAC-CESU contributing to coastal resource management and habitat conservation research.
• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1999Federal agency partner in the NAC-CESU network working on environmental protection and coastal science initiatives.
• NAC-CESU Non-Federal Partners (28 universities and research organizations)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of 28 non-federal partners including universities and research organizations from across the Northeast collaborating on coastal resource management.
• The Nature Conservancy in Rhode IslandmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for innovative urban watershed resilience efforts at Roger Williams Park, combining stormwater management expertise with climate response initiatives.
• Stormwater Innovation CentermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner in urban stormwater management and climate resilience demonstration projects at Roger Williams Park.
• City of Providence Parks DepartmentmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal government partner hosting climate response demonstration sites and supporting urban watershed resilience initiatives.
• Rhode Island Department of Environmental ManagementcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary government partner through SSEER (Scientific Support for Environmental Emergency Response) MOU for environmental emergency preparedness, response, and recovery.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution: Private non-profit ocean research institution on Cape Cod, MA. Operates similarly to URI Coastal Institute as a research coordination hub with extensive federal agency relationships, multi-source grant funding, and a focus on coastal and marine science.
• Scripps Institution of Oceanography: UC San Diego's oceanographic research arm, one of the largest U.S. ocean research institutions. Comparable as a university-based coastal and marine research organization with major federal funding relationships and interdisciplinary fellow networks.
• Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute: Florida Atlantic University's ocean research institute. Similar structure as a state university coastal/ocean research unit with applied science partnerships and federal agency engagement.
• Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences: Independent non-profit ocean research laboratory in East Boothbay, Maine. Comparable as a coastal/ocean research organization with federal grant funding and applied environmental science programs.
• Virginia Institute of Marine Science: Coastal and marine research institute within William & Mary, focused on Chesapeake Bay and Mid-Atlantic coastal issues. Direct analog as a state-university-affiliated coastal research hub providing science to state and federal agencies.
• Dauphin Island Sea Lab: Alabama's state marine research laboratory on the Gulf Coast. Directly comparable as a state-affiliated coastal research organization serving state environmental agencies and federal partners.

Regional players

• Gulf of Maine Research Institute: Non-profit marine research institute based in Portland, Maine focused on Gulf of Maine coastal science and community resilience. Comparable mission and Northeastern geography to URI Coastal Institute.
• Chesapeake Bay Program: Multi-agency regional partnership coordinating Chesapeake Bay restoration, hosted partly at academic institutions. Comparable as a regional coastal resource management collaboration with state and federal agency partners.

Emerging players

• Schmidt Ocean Institute: Private operating foundation supporting oceanographic research and technology development. Comparable as a privately-funded entity advancing open ocean and coastal science with interdisciplinary research networks.

Broad incumbents

• NOAA Sea Grant College Program: National federal-academic network of 34 Sea Grant programs focused on coastal research, outreach, and education. Overlaps significantly with URI Coastal Institute's coastal research, education (ECL program), and federal partnership roles.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/uri_coastalinst
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/CoastURI/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/uricoastalinstitute
• Instagraminstagram.com/uri_coastalinstitute
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/uri-ci

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about URI Coastal Institute