OVERVIEW
The RI Biotechnology/Biomanufacturing Training Initiative (BTI) is a partnership between the Tech Collective, the Workforce Partnership of Greater Rhode Island (WPGRI), and the RI biotechnology industry. It is a 3 year, $ 3 million dollar grant initiative designed to address the critical workforce skill shortages challenging the biotechnology/biomanufacturing industry in Rhode Island and is funded by the US Department of Labor under the H-1B Technical Skills Training Program.
The BTI’s mission is to create a pipeline of qualified biotechnology/biomanufacturing workers to fill current and future skills shortage positions in Rhode Island’s Biotechnology/Biomanufacturing sector and reduce corporate dependency for H-1B visa workers in this arena. The BTI’s objectives will be accomplished through 4 key elements:
- tailored service delivery strategies for 3 distinct target populations (incumbent, transitioning, and future workers) which will establish a solid foundation on which to build Rhode Island’s long term workforce development strategy for the industry;
- enhancement of Rhode Island’s biotechnology/biomanufacturing training and education capacity, which will attract more talent to the state over time;
- development of powerful new linkages between business, academia, community organizations and government agencies, which will leverage workforce development resources; and
- development of an Industry Advisory Council which will transition into a Biotechnology Industry Cluster Association for the state and carry on the functions initiated by this project.
The industry partner companies currently participating in the BTI are: Amgen, Cambrex, Concordia Manufacturing, Epivax, LCT BioPharma, Nephros Therapeutics, Neurotech USA, and Spherics, Inc. The grant recipient/fiscal agent of this initiative is the WPGRI and the program manager is Tech Collective.
For more information contact Cheryl DaCosta, Program Manager at 1(401)521-7805 ext. 102 or by email at cdacosta@tech-collective.org.
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