Collaboration will advance AI-driven biomanufacturing technologies while creating hands-on training opportunities for Rhode Island biotechnology students.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – November 3, 2026 – The Rhode Island Life Science Hub (RILSH) has finalized a $100,000 award, approved by its Board of Directors in January 2026, to support a new partnership between Ensemble Biosystems and the University of Rhode Island (URI) after Ensemble met all program requirements. The partnership is focused on advancing biomanufacturing innovation and preparing Rhode Island students for careers in the growing life sciences industry.
The initiative, Training the Rhode Island Bioeconomy: Quantum-native biomanufacturing, will bring together Ensemble’s emerging biomanufacturing technology and URI’s biotechnology education programs to develop practical training opportunities for the next generation of scientists.
The partnership will focus on demonstrating a quantum-native self-driving biomanufacturing full-stack platform that combines advances from drug discovery, to bioprocess engineering, automated process control, and modular manufacturing. The technology is designed to support more flexible, efficient, and continuous production of biological products.
Beyond demonstrating the technology, the initiative seeks to establish a lasting relationship between Ensemble Biosystems and URI, creating opportunities for students to gain experience with emerging manufacturing methods while helping build a skilled workforce capable of supporting Rhode Island’s expanding life sciences sector.
“We are thrilled to partner with the URI team on the RILSH-funded workforce development initiative,” said Saara Mansouri, PhD, Co-founder and CEO of Ensemble Biosystems. “This collaboration allows us to bridge cutting-edge industry innovation with top-tier academic training right here in Rhode Island. By equipping students with hands-on experience in quantum-native biomanufacturing, we are helping prepare the next generation of scientific talent to drive our regional biotech and life sciences ecosystem forward.”
The collaboration will draw on URI’s expertise in biotechnology and molecular biology, with faculty members working alongside Ensemble to connect academic instruction with real-world industry applications.
“We’re excited to work with Ensemble Biosystems to expand training opportunities for our biotechnology undergraduates to build the skills Rhode Island’s biomedical industry needs,” said Jodi Camberg, Professor and Chair of the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology at the University of Rhode Island’s College of the Environment and Life Sciences. Camberg and Clinical Associate Professor Brian Plouffe are overseeing URI’s role in the partnership, ensuring the training aligns with learning outcomes for biotechnology students.
For the Rhode Island Life Science Hub, the investment reflects a broader commitment to strengthening connections between the state’s research institutions, emerging companies, and workforce development programs.
“Biomanufacturing is changing, and the future will require a new way of making things. Ensemble is showing what that looks like,” said Bob Cormier, President and CEO of the Rhode Island Life Science Hub. “Rhode Island can lead that shift, but only if we support the ideas coming out of our schools and help them grow into companies. This is exactly the kind of partnership we want to support. Ensemble gets access to URI’s talent and research, and URI students get real, hands-on experience in an industry that’s growing right here at home. That’s how we build the workforce that keeps life science companies in Rhode Island.”
The $100,000 award will support activities tied to project milestones and workforce development at URI. The initial phase will focus on demonstrating Ensemble’s technology and establishing the foundation for a longer-term training program that can grow alongside the company.
By combining industry innovation with academic expertise, the initiative aims to strengthen Rhode Island’s capacity for advanced biomanufacturing while expanding opportunities for students to participate in the technologies shaping the future of medicine and biotechnology.
About the Rhode Island Life Science Hub
The Rhode Island Life Science Hub is a state-established organization dedicated to growing Rhode Island’s life sciences industry by supporting innovation, connecting resources, attracting investment, and creating opportunities for companies, researchers, and the state’s workforce.
About Ensemble Biosystems
Ensemble Biosystems is a full-stack biotechnology company developing advanced quantum-native capabilities that integrate drug discovery and cell engineering, bioprocess engineering, and modular production systems. The company has its roots spinning out of King’s College London and the Technical University of Denmark.
About the University of Rhode Island
The University of Rhode Island is Rhode Island’s flagship public research university, advancing education, research, and innovation across disciplines including biotechnology, molecular biology, and the life sciences.