Tinker Bristol will be a unique incubator/makerspace hybrid, organized as a nonprofit (501(c) 3) with a full-time shop manager and director, a board of directors and an advisory council representing diverse disciplines and expertise. Initial capitalization is being funded through grants, sponsorships and philanthropy. The operation will be self-sustaining long term with tenant leases, membership income, event fees, and business service and licensing charges. The facility is projected to become cash-flow positive in 24-36 months.
Manufacturers
Why combine an Incubator with a Makerspace?
Research has shown that Business Incubators are diversifying their functionality to broaden their impact, while Makerspaces are harnessing their commercial potential to become self-sustaining. By imbedding a Manufacturing Incubator in the collaborative culture of a Makerspace from day one, Tinker|Bristol provides cross-functional capabilities, which enhance offerings for members and tenants and increases its income potential for long term sustainability. This hybrid business model distinguishes Tinker|Bristol from innovation centers that are either exclusively business incubators or members-only workshops.
How is Tinker|Bristol different from traditional incubators?
Although trends have focused on technological innovations, there has been little innovation in how to facilitate the transfer of inventions from the garage or classroom to commercial success. Unlike traditional business incubation, Tinker|Bristol is pioneering a new approach by tapping into the makerspace culture of collaboration.
Key differentiators include:
- Access equipment to facilitate prototyping, the acquisition of new skills and the development of new applications and technologies;
- Open access for the community (instead of exclusively serving start-up companies and entrepreneurs) through an equipment timeshare and service bureau;
- Leveraging Rhode Island’s native assets and homegrown talent pool of manufacturers, master trades people and inventors;
- Access to expertise of specialists and experts in a collaborative relationship, allowing founders to focus on developing their invention instead of trying to master business skills that may not be their strengths;
- Open to established businesses with corporate makerspace memberships, providing affordable access to equipment to help accelerate R+D and product development;
- Room for incubated companies to grow in flexible manufacturing space immediately adjacent to Tinker|Bristol as well as in surplus space available throughout the Bristol Industrial Park.
- Located in the heart of downtown Bristol, not isolated in a technology park or university campus.
Why Would a Business Want to Join a Makerspace?
With 12,400 sf of commercial grade Manufacturing Equipment, Rapid Prototyping, and R&D tools at your disposal and Monthly Business membership ‘seats’ starting at $150/month you can make your R&D and Development funds go further and your process go faster. Access to much more equipment than most small businesses can normally afford and the ability to be part of a community of businesses, entrepreneurs, manufacturers, artists and the like will help your company grow and prosper. Each ‘seat’ rented gets anyone (once trained on Tinker|Bristol safety procedures!) in your company, at any given time – amount of persons based on number of seats, access to all that Tinker|Bristol offers. If your business is looking to really grow and take your operations to the next level then you should look at joining our Incubator program as well!
Tinker|Bristol enables manufacturers, start-ups and small businesses to access:
- More efficient use of their R+D budgets
- Commercial grade manufacturing equipment and rapid proto-typing facilities, otherwise unaffordable to small enterprises
- Faster development processes and technologies
- Shared expertise of professional and creative makers
- Makerspace benefits for employees
- Incubator services to take operations to the next level
- Networking in a community of manufacturers, inventors and makers
How will Tinker|Bristol handle intellectual property and sensitive business information?
The collaborative environment is intended to accelerate innovation and product development, not undermine it. Tinker|Bristol will adhere to policies and practices tailored to the privacy needs of each user.
For example:
- Intellectual property, patents and concepts remain the property of the inventor/originator at all times.
- Both makerspace members and incubator tenants will agree to an NDNC-type agreement not to steal, misuse, sell or disclose the designs, concepts or engineering of others.
- Members will have the ability to book private time in specific work areas or sections of the facility at variable peak and off-peak rates.
Rhode Island’s Economic Development Strategy
A “Lively Experiment” in Growing the Economy
East Bay’s concentrated marine trades and advanced composites industries, serving defense and aviation as well as art, offer a fertile environment for piloting Tinker|Bristol, which is designed to be a scalable, replicable proof of concept for stimulating grassroots manufacturing and applied product development in Rhode Island. Providing a streamlined pathway from R+D to the marketplace, the Tinker project aligns with statewide initiatives to accelerate manufacturing innovation, support small businesses and create jobs.
Sustainability through Innovation and Collaboration:
Tinker|Bristol responds to a critical need that has been identified both locally and nationally, which is: sustainable economies depend on innovation and entrepreneurship. By sharing equipment, new technologies, services and training in a collaborative environment, Tinker|Bristol will offer entrepreneurs and businesses a more streamlined pathway from R+D to the marketplace.
Rhode Island’s storied manufacturing industries are in crisis. Today Rhode Island is 4th in the nation in lost manufacturing jobs; 48th in both short- and long-term job growth; 47th in unemployment; and 25th in innovation capacity. Tinker|Bristol’s unique multi-disciplinary hybrid business model will offer the ability to engage a broad network of manufacturing expertise to help advance applied product development in Rhode Island.
Tinker|Bristol and the East Bay:
Small companies are the growth engines of Rhode Island’s economy. There are 191 registered manufacturers in Bristol and Newport counties, of which 150 employ less then 20 people each. History proves that the East Bay has the natural resources, trade skills, and home-grown talent to successfully drive a manufacturing incubator and makerspace. Tinker|Bristol reflects the maritime culture, boat-building heritage, and the “made with skilled hands” values of those who have made their homes on the eastern shore of Narragansett Bay. Beginning in 1836 the Bristol Steam Mill Company, Herreshoff Manufacturing Company, and the National India Rubber Company made the East Bay one of the industrial innovation centers of New England. Exploiting new technologies and processes in an historic manufacturing space, Tinker ushers in Bristol’s newest Industrial Revolution.
Tinker|Bristol and the Town of Bristol:
Tinker|Bristol is committed to helping Bristol create jobs and grow businesses. Famous for being the home of the oldest Fourth of July celebration in America, Bristol is justly proud of its heritage, cultural life and welcoming neighborhoods. Tinker|Bristol can play an important role in stimulating economic development in Bristol’s historic manufacturing district around Wood and Franklin Streets, where, during World War II, the National Rubber Company’s Cable and Wire Division employed half the population of Bristol.
Located equidistant between Providence and Newport, the Bristol Industrial Park is accessible by public bus routes and just a few blocks away from the densely populated town center. Increasingly innovators want to locate where the environment fosters invention and cross-disciplinary collaboration, that is, in the heart of downtowns. Under-utilized urban manufacturing buildings like the Bristol Industrial Park bring innovation back to Main Street, within walking distance of schools, restaurants, shops and cultural attractions—all fodder for the development of a thriving economy.
Supporting East Bay Business:
Tinker|Bristol will facilitate collaboration, innovation, job creation and business growth. The goal is to collaborate with businesses, not compete with them, by providing existing companies equipment and services they could not otherwise afford and by helping startups, which are not yet established, get on their feet. Tinker|Bristol will build a network of local partners (service providers, suppliers & vendors, outlets to sell new products, professional services, etc.,) which will help businesses build a concentrated customer-base. New companies emerging from Tinker|Bristol can move on to available space in the Bristol Industrial Park or other industrial centers throughout Rhode Island.
Rhode Island Partners and Affiliates:
Collaboration is critical to the success of this initiative. Tinker|Bristol is exploring partnerships with local businesses, manufacturers, experienced retirees, trades people, artisans and leaders of the Maker Movement, including:
- East Bay and Newport Chambers of Commerce
- Rhode Island Department of Commerce and Commerce Corporation
- Rhode Island Marine Trades Association and Advanced Composites Alliance
- Rhode Island Advanced Manufacturing Center and ManufacturingRI
- Rhode Island Governor’s Workforce Board
- New England Institute of Technology (NEIT)
- Roger Williams University Office of University Outreach and Engagement
- IYRS (Newport & Bristol campuses)
- Southeastern New England Defense Industry Alliance (SENEDIA)
- RI Manufacturing Renaissance Collaborative
- Polaris MEP
- AS220
- FabNewport
How can Tinker|Bristol serve manufacturers?
Your input is important during our formative phase. Manufacturers, vendors and related businesses are invited to share their feedback by completing this very short survey:
Making it together
Following an integrative design process, Tinker|Bristol is being developed collaboratively, in consultation with its stakeholders—entrepreneurs, trades people, start-ups, existing businesses, inventors and makers of all stripes—as well as a broad network of leaders in manufacturing, economic development, education and the Maker Movement.
Who’s talking about Tinker|Bristol?
Bristol, RI 02809