Brown School of Engineering Lecturer Jennifer Franck will partner with BluSource Energy of Bristol, R.I. as a grant recipient in the second round of awards given by the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation, an economic-development arm of state government, in this fiscal year.
The award will grant $50,000 towards the technology development of oscillating hydrofoil propulsion. Oscillating propulsion aims to enhance performance and efficiency compared with traditional propellers, and targets tug/fishing vessels as well as small military craft. Franck will perform computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations to assist in the design and characterization of the technology.
Governor Gina M. Raimondo's administration awarded the second round of Innovation Vouchers to encourage research and development projects. The grants are awarded to small businesses with fewer than 500 employees, and toward R&D projects assisted by a Rhode Island university, research center or medical center. "The U.S. Chamber of Commerce ranks Rhode Island as the second-best state in America for innovation and entrepreneurship. Our innovation grants give startups the spark they need to turn their ideas into businesses," Raimondo said.