New Bedford Research & Robotics

What New Bedford Research & Robotics does

New Bedford Research & Robotics (NBRR) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit laboratory and ecosystem founded in 2021 by Mark Parsons in New Bedford, Massachusetts. Operating from a 33,000 sq ft, four-building campus at 1265 Purchase Street on the city's "Innovation Avenue" adjacent to a working seaport, the organization combines five distinct functions under one roof: a hardware and blue-tech startup incubator, industry R&D services for corporate clients, workforce certification programs in marine robotics and industrial robotics, a trademarked STEA3M (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Access, Applied) curriculum for K-12 learners, and artist/designer residency programs including WATiR and ADIR.

NBRR's core technology stack is anchored by frontier hardware, including Massachusetts' largest industrial robot, multiple collaborative robots (Cobots), 3D printers, VR systems, Zboats, marine robotics platforms (ROV/AUV), and double-height industrial space with 5-ton overhead gantries at the Purchase Street campus. The facility and equipment are paired with engineering expertise in computational design, digital fabrication, metal forming, advanced toolpathing, and computer vision, and are offered to startups, corporate R&D clients, visiting university researchers, and workforce trainees on a shared-infrastructure basis. Named member startups span marine robotics (Orpheus Ocean, Sedna Robotics), extended reality (Hyperreality Labs), materials (Minerali), sports equipment (PK Hockey), and sustainable fashion (PROCODE_DRESS), with academic collaborations including Cornell, UMass Dartmouth, Hamilton College, and Carnegie Mellon.

As a nonprofit, NBRR's revenue mechanics are a hybrid of donations (including a recurring "Innovation Circle" monthly giving program), corporate sponsorships, foundation grants (Braitmayer, Siegel, Ellis Phillips, Bullard, Southcoast Community, Jacobs), institutional grants (MassTech, MassCEC), federally sponsored workforce training delivered in partnership with MassHire, fee-for-service industry R&D engagements, and incubator membership fees. Pricing across most service lines is quote-based and not publicly disclosed; the Marine Robotics Workforce Development program is federally sponsored and free to participants. Since 2021 the organization has created over 50 staff, intern, and start-up jobs and trained 90+ interns, with planned 2026 expansion of a formal investment pipeline connecting member startups to angel, VC, and SBIR/STTR capital.

Name

New Bedford Research & Robotics

Legal name

New Bedford Research & Robotics

Website

https://researchandrobotics.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

New Bedford Research & Robotics is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit laboratory founded in 2021 that operates a 33,000 sq ft robotics innovation campus in New Bedford, Massachusetts. It combines hardware startup incubation, marine and industrial robotics workforce training, STEA3M youth education, industry R&D services, and artist residencies under one facility serving entrepreneurs, corporate partners, students, and the South Coast community.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Robotics Innovation and Workforce Development Laboratory

NAICS

Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) (541715), Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (54171)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

Information Technology & Software (EDAAAPAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

STEM & Coding Learning Centers (Robotics, Programming, Engineering) (EDANAHAF)

Keywords

• Robotics workforce training
• Marine robotics development
• Hardware startup incubation
• Advanced manufacturing education
• STEAM curriculum programs

Headquarters

HQ city

New Bedford

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization (EIN 87-3768241), NBRR relies heavily on donations from individuals and institutions. Monthly giving through the 'Innovation Circle' provides recurring support. Donations fund STEA³M education programs, research & development, and community outreach.
2. Corporate Sponsorships and Grants: Corporate sponsorships and institutional grants from foundations (Braitmayer Foundation, Southcoast Community Foundation, Siegel Family Endowment, Ellis Phillips Foundation, Bullard Family Foundation) and government entities (Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, MassCEC) fund programs and capital improvements. MassCEC awarded $11.3M in ocean technology grants through the Ocean Innovation Network, with $2.13M directly supporting NBRR's renovations and operations.
3. Industry R&D and Prototyping Services: NBRR offers turnkey access to frontier technologies — including prototyping labs, engineering expertise, and design support — to corporate clients seeking to develop manufacturing efficiencies, new products, and applications. Services are provided at a predictable cost, positioning companies to invest in scaling after refinement.
4. Incubator Membership and Facility Access: Startups and entrepreneurs gain access to NBRR's physical infrastructure, prototyping tools, and ecosystem through membership, which includes collaborative workspace, private office space, conference rooms, and access to engineers and interns. New resources in 2026 will include an investment pipeline connecting startups with angel investors, VCs, and government funding (SBIR/STTR).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

New Bedford Research & Robotics (NBRR) operates a 33,000 sq ft non-profit innovation campus providing hardware startup incubation, certified workforce training in marine and industrial robotics, STEA³M youth education, an internship program, corporate R&D prototyping services, and artist/designer residencies. The organization functions as a robotics laboratory and innovation ecosystem serving entrepreneurs, industry partners, students, and community members in the South Coast Massachusetts region.

Product overview

New Bedford Research & Robotics (NBRR) operates as a non-profit laboratory and ecosystem offering an integrated portfolio of services rather than a single unified product. The core offerings include a Hardware & Blue-Tech Incubator for startup acceleration, combined with Workforce Development Programs in Marine Robotics, Industrial Robotics, and Advanced Manufacturing. Educational programming includes the trademarked STEA3M curriculum for youth and an Internship Program for students. NBRR also provides Industry R&D services for corporate partners and hosts Artists & Designers in Residence (ADIR) and Women Artists and Technologists in Residence (WATiR) programs. The organization functions as both a hardware startup incubator and bluetech accelerator, providing entrepreneurs access to frontier technologies including robotics, AI, and advanced manufacturing tools such as Massachusetts' largest industrial robot.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• STEA3M Programming: STEM education program with an arts and creativity focus, emphasizing 'Arts', 'Access' to frontier technologies, and 'Applied' knowledge for youth technical career preparation.

Products and services

• Hardware & Blue-Tech Incubator Early-stage startup incubator providing physical infrastructure, rapid prototyping tools, and industry pathways for marine tech and robotics companies to scale from ideation to commercialization. Members include Orpheus Ocean (autonomous underwater vehicles), Sedna Robotics, Hyperreality Labs, Minerali, and PK Hockey Co. Membership includes collaborative workspace, private office space, conference rooms, and access to engineers and interns.
• Marine Robotics Workforce Development Program
• Industrial Robotics Workforce Development Program
• Design & Advanced Manufacturing Program
• STEA³M Programming
• Internship Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 90 interns trained since 2022; 35 interns typically hosted per year
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Union Architecture Studio & DesigncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitecture firm partnered with NBRR to articulate the architectural vision for NBRR's facility, delivering state-of-the-art facilities, co-working, and advanced prototyping spaces tailored for marine tech, AI/ML, advanced manufacturing, and robotics.
• New Bedford Ocean Cluster (NBOC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNBOC is a key ecosystem partner for NBRR, co-hosting the Blue Innovation Symposium Ecosystem Tour at NBRR. NBOC received a $2.13M MassCEC grant that directly supports NBRR's operations. NBRR and NBOC jointly drive ocean technology innovation in New Bedford.
• MassHire Greater New Bedford Career CentercoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMassHire is NBRR's workforce development program partner, co-delivering federally sponsored Marine Robotics and Industrial Robotics training programs. MassHire handles career center services, participant recruitment, and program administration while NBRR provides technical training and facility access.
• UMass DartmouthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUMass Dartmouth is a key academic partner, providing intern talent to NBRR and collaborating on research. The university brings graduate and undergraduate students to NBRR for research and internship experiences. Partnership connects academic research with commercial R&D.
• Olson Advanced Manufacturing Center (UNH)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvanced manufacturing research center at UNH listed as a partner, potentially collaborating on manufacturing research and workforce development in advanced manufacturing techniques.
• Port of New BedfordminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Port of New Bedford is a strategic partner, with NBRR's facility adjacent to the working seaport. The partnership supports blue tech innovation and marine robotics development, leveraging the port's maritime infrastructure.
• Ocean Technology HubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOcean technology ecosystem organization listed as a partner, contributing to the blue tech innovation network around New Bedford and NBRR.
• Cornell UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCornell University Assistant Professor Marirena Kladeftira and graduate/undergraduate students conducted intensive research at NBRR for one week focused on advanced design and digital fabrication. Represents academic research collaboration.
• Hamilton CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHamilton College is a key source of NBRR interns. Intern Jack Kertscher is a Hamilton College Computer Science candidate who has interned at NBRR for 3 years (2023-2025), working on computer vision, AI workflows, and robotics programming.
• One South Coast ChamberminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional chamber of commerce for the South Coast Massachusetts area, supporting business development and community engagement for NBRR and its ecosystem.
• Action Innovation NetworkminorGTM or Marketing PartnerInnovation network organization listed as a partner, connecting NBRR with broader innovation ecosystem resources, events, and potential partners.
• STEAM the StreetsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization supporting STEAM education in underserved communities, listed as a STEM partner organization working with NBRR to expand access to STEA³M programming.
• Junior AchievementminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJunior Achievement is a community partner of NBRR, collaborating on workforce development and entrepreneurship education programs for youth in the New Bedford area.
• CLT MarineminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMarine technology company listed as a partner, contributing to the blue tech ecosystem around NBRR's marine robotics and ocean technology focus areas.
• FORGEminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerImpact-focused organization listed as a partner, supporting NBRR's mission around economic empowerment and social impact through technology.
• MA Tech Hub / MassTechminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMassachusetts technology hub initiative supported by MassTech, connecting NBRR to the broader state technology and innovation ecosystem.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• MassRobotics: Boston-based non-profit robotics innovation hub operating an incubator, workforce programming, and industry R&D engagement in the same MA robotics/AI ecosystem; the most directly comparable peer to NBRR.
• Newlab: Brooklyn-based private innovation hub operating frontier-tech prototyping labs, startup incubation, and applied R&D programming; analogous "lab + incubator + ecosystem" model focused on advanced manufacturing and emerging technologies.
• Greentown Labs: Somerville, MA non-profit cleantech/advanced manufacturing startup incubator providing prototyping labs, corporate sponsorship, and ecosystem programming — directly comparable non-profit hardware accelerator model in the same MA state-funding landscape.
• Fab Foundation / MIT Fab Lab Network: Global network of digital fabrication/maker labs providing equipment access, training, and STEAM education; analogous maker/maker-education programming to NBRR's STEA³M curriculum and prototyping infrastructure.
• Venture Café Cambridge: Non-profit innovation community operating weekly programming, networking, and entrepreneurship events in Greater Boston; operates a community-led innovation model very similar to NBRR's AHA! nights and pitch/demo programming.
• Autodesk BUILD Space: Boston Autodesk-funded advanced manufacturing/robotics prototyping space offering industry access to industrial robotics and digital fabrication tooling; comparable frontier-tech prototyping resource for startups and industry R&D.
• Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM) Institute: Pittsburgh-based national Manufacturing USA institute advancing robotics/automation R&D and workforce training for U.S. manufacturing; directly comparable mission around industry R&D plus certified robotics workforce development.

Broad incumbents

• Cambridge Innovation Center (CIC): Large global shared-workspace/incubator operator with a major Boston/Cambridge presence serving startups, corporates, and government innovation programs; broader portfolio but overlapping on incubator and innovation-district functions.
• MassChallenge: Boston-headquartered global non-profit accelerator working with startups across industries including robotics and advanced manufacturing; comparable non-profit scaling/ecosystem play, though with a broader sector focus.

Others

• Battelle Memorial Institute: Large non-profit applied R&D organization running national laboratories and commercial R&D services for federal/industry clients; relevant adjacent comparability on the industry R&D and applied research services side of NBRR's work.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/new-bedford-research-robotics
• Instagraminstagram.com/researchandrobotics

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about New Bedford Research & Robotics