By Julian Steinforth, Expedition PR
On an ongoing bases we have reported about the Brooklyn tech evolvement over the last couple of years. But beside Brooklyn’s flagships such as the Brooklyn Navy Yard or DUMBO, smaller organizations also contribute to Brooklyn’s growing tech environment. One of them is Brooklyn Research.org, a co-research space for independent and privately funded researchers that build new technology in Brooklyn. Founded in 2012, Brooklyn Research offers prototyping facilities and workspace to a handful of full-time research members. I had the chance to talk to Alex Dodge, co-founder at Brooklyn Research and partner at the for profit consultancy Brooklyn Research, about Brooklyn, Tech and future projects:
ExpeditionPR: In a nutshell, what is Brooklyn Research about?
Alex Dodge: Brooklyn Research was founded in 2012 as a co-research space for independent and privately funded researchers building new technology in Brooklyn, NY.
Our lab offers prototyping facilities and workspace to a limited number of full-time research members. Membership is granted to applicants with compelling proposals for research in a range of areas and disciplines such as data analytics and visualization, machine learning, computer vision, robotics, fabrication, and wearable / textile-based technology. Brooklyn Research’s 501(c)(3) status is currently pending but we look forward to serving our researchers’ needs and our community more fully soon.
Brooklyn Research’s for profit arm is a full service research and development lab building specialized interactive systems. We work with a range of clients that have included Verizon, Samsung, Unicef, and The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Brooklyn Research is located at the former Pfizer pharmaceutical factory in Brooklyn, NY.
ExpeditionPR: Can you highlight some of the milestones you passed since you were founded in 2012?
Alex Dodge: Since 2012 we have expanded our facilities in Brooklyn nearly tripling our square footage, participated in interactive events for the past two Super Bowls, helped bring a dynamic interactive exhibit to life at one of the most prominent cultural institutions in the world.
ExpeditionPR: According to industry and media reports, Brooklyn’s status as a tech hub is rising. What’s your take on Brooklyn as a tech hub?
Alex Dodge: The rise of the Brooklyn Tech Triangle and North Brooklyn tech scene is pretty self-evident. NYC and Brooklyn has always been a cultural hub where great minds come together to build incredible new things and it holds as much for tech as it does for any industry. We are here because this is where we have to be. We love it here.
ExpeditionPR: On what projects will Brooklyn Research be working in 2020?
Alex Dodge: Definitely Space, growable meat alternatives, food reclamation, amphibious recreation vehicles, —independently or combined.
ExpeditionPR: What’s your favorite place in Brooklyn?
Alex Dodge: Peaches Hothouse, New Apollo, Sunset Park for any occasion, Brooklyn Botanic Garden next to the pawpaw trees.
Thank you to Alex and the Brooklyn Research team for taking the time to answer the questions.
We highly recommend you to visit http://brooklynresearch.org/members/ and to have a look at the exciting projects that are in the works.