Siren Marine receives $50,000 innovation grant

Siren Marine LLC, was recently awarded a $50,000 Innovation Voucher Grant from Rhode Island Commerce Corp. in a program designed to help small, innovative companies partner with research and development centers at top universities, medical centers or research facilities.

This grant will allow Siren Marine to partner with the New England Institute of Technology in the development of wireless transceivers and sensors for the Siren Marine proprietary Internet of Things boat monitoring and tracking system. This partnership is expected to enhance Siren Marine’s existing Connected Boat technology — which gives boaters the power to monitor, track and control their vessels via the Internet and mobile apps — while eventually helping Siren Marine expand into other high-tech applications beyond the marine industry.

Siren Marine’s leadership said it appreciates this grant award as both recognition for its hard work and affirmation of the company’s future plans.

“Building a successful tech start-up is by far the hardest thing I have ever done,” said Siren Marine Founder and CEO Daniel A. Harper. “It makes single-handed ocean sailing and riding out hurricanes seem like a breeze. The rewards, however, have been worth every bit of the effort. This grant is going to be a huge boost for our plans to bring cutting-edge innovation to the marine industry, and will help grow our business inside the marine space and beyond.”

Five Rhode Island companies were selected from 31 firms submitting proposals.

“We are very pleased to award this Innovation Voucher to Siren Marine,” said Secretary of Commerce Stefan Pryor. “Siren Marine is a terrific company with enormous potential. To their credit, the entrepreneurs at Siren Marine are simultaneously drawing upon Rhode Island’s proud tradition in boating and our state’s emerging strength in technology. We wish them great success.” 

Siren Marine will work closely with NEIT as its Knowledge Provider, taking full advantage of this accredited university’s technical expertise to help develop low-power wireless transceivers and sensors to make its hardware more robust, as well as easier to install and set-up for users. In this way, Siren Marine can bring the increasingly popular home monitoring/security-type connected technology to a new application — protecting boats and boaters in the harsh and unforgiving marine environment.

“We are very excited to be working with Siren Marine to lay the groundwork for tomorrow’s connected boat technology,” said Steven H. Kitchin, NEIT vice president for corporate education and training. “Our technical expertise paired with Siren Marine’s understanding of the marine industry and what boaters truly need make this a great match. We’re confident that together, we can help shape the way boaters connect with their vessels and enhance the overall boating experience.”

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