Source URL: https://cloud.google.com/blog/topics/public-sector/rice-university-and-google-public-sector-partner-to-build-an-innovation-hub-in-texas/
Source: Cloud Blog
Title: Rice University and Google Public Sector partner to build an innovation hub in Texas
Feedly Summary: Rice University and Google Public Sector are partnering to launch the Rice AI Venture Accelerator (RAVA), designed to drive early-stage AI innovation and commercialization. This collaboration enables RAVA to connect AI-first startups with leading enterprises in healthcare, energy, transportation, and the public sector, aiming to drive AI-powered solutions to pressing industry challenges.In an increasingly AI-driven world, the RAVA team acknowledges the critical need to balance speed of innovation and security. RAVA aims to create an ecosystem where founders can be both bold and responsible by bringing the simplicity, security, and intelligence of Google Cloud’s information approach to their startup.Through this collaboration, direct access to Google Cloud’s AI experts, cloud computing, and sandbox services. Google Cloud will provide a full-stack AI, data, and security sandbox environment that will enable AI-first startups to rapidly prototype, scale faster, and save money.The AI-optimized sandbox will include the following capabilities:AIAutomated provisioning and management of environments tailored to industries including healthcare, energy, transportation and public sector. These environments will include connections to Google Cloud’s differentiated data sets like Alphafold and access to fully managed services like Health Data Engine, Google Earth Engine and Google Maps.AI-infused accelerators, including Graphical Process Units (GPUs) and Google Cloud’s custom-design Arm-based processors (Axion) and Tensor Processing Units (TPUs) for analytics, information retrieval, and ML trainingMulti-agentic AI framework and a unified development platform via Google Vertex AI Platform which includes Agent Builder and 160+ first-party (Gemini, Imagen 3), third-party, and open (Gemma) foundation models.Data & AnalyticsModernized API management via Apigee to build, manage, and secure APIs—for any use case, environment, or scale.Business and embedded analytics via Looker to explore and share insights in real time as well as access to hundreds of cross-industry public datasets via BigQuerySecurityThe industry’s first multi-cloud security solution — Google Security Command Center, including Model Armor, — as well as Sensitive Data Protection to protect LLM models and data sources against unauthorized exposure, prompt injections, and jailbreak attacks.Google Public Sector will also provide dedicated training to RAVA startups and supporting teams to maximize their AI literacy and industry adoption.“We are thrilled to announce the launch of the Rice AI Venture Accelerator in partnership with Google Public Sector,” Rice President Reginald DesRoches said. “This collaboration builds on Rice’s decades-long history of innovation and aligns perfectly with our mission to transform breakthrough research into real-world impact. Through RAVA, we are creating an ecosystem where industry leaders can access the next generation of AI-driven solutions.”“Google Public Sector is excited to partner with RAVA to build an AI Innovation Hub that will enable startups to accelerate innovation and solve the most complex challenges across different industries. Through our collaboration, we are hoping to help startups to do more with less and to effectively adapt to rapidly changing environments,” said Reymund Dumlao, Google Public Sector Director of State & Local Government and EducationFor more information about RAVA, visit https://nexus.rice.edu/rava.Discover Google Cloud’s latest groundbreaking technologies at Google Cloud Next 2025 in Las Vegas, April 9-11.
AI Summary and Description: Yes
Summary: The Rice AI Venture Accelerator (RAVA), in partnership with Google Public Sector, is designed to foster early-stage AI innovation and commercialization, emphasizing security alongside speed of innovation. This initiative provides a comprehensive ecosystem for AI-first startups while ensuring high standards of data protection and AI security.
Detailed Description: The establishment of RAVA indicates a strategic move to enhance the landscape of AI startups. The focus on innovation, security, and accessibility of Google Cloud’s resources highlights several major points relevant to AI, cloud computing, and security professionals:
– **Partnership Overview**:
– Rice University collaborates with Google Public Sector to launch RAVA, an accelerator aimed at supporting AI startups across various sectors including healthcare, energy, and transportation.
– **Innovation and Security Balance**:
– RAVA recognizes the need for a balanced approach to speed and security in AI development.
– **Ecosystem Creation**:
– The initiative aims to create a supportive ecosystem where startups can innovate responsibly, leveraging Google Cloud’s infrastructure for secure data management.
– **Access to Resources**:
– The accelerator provides access to Google Cloud’s AI expertise, cloud computing resources, and sandbox services, allowing startups to prototype efficiently.
– **AI-Optimized Sandbox Features**:
– **Automated Environment Management**: Tailored AI environments for specific industries, integrating Google’s advanced datasets.
– **Enhanced Hardware**: Access to GPUs, TPUs, and Google’s custom-designed processors to optimize machine learning tasks.
– **Unified Development Platform**: Utilization of the Google Vertex AI Platform for streamlined AI development, including various foundational models.
– **Data & Analytics Solutions**:
– RAVA offers modernized API management with Apigee and real-time analytics through Looker, enhancing insights sharing and data accessibility.
– **Security Solutions**:
– The initiative highlights new security measures including Google Security Command Center and Model Armor to protect LLM models against threats, as well as Sensitive Data Protection to safeguard data sources from unauthorized access.
– **Training and Support**:
– Google Public Sector will also provide training to help RAVA startups enhance their AI literacy, facilitating successful industry adoption.
This initiative not only aims to innovate but also prioritizes security, making it essential for professionals in AI, cloud computing, and infrastructure security to understand the implications of such partnerships. As companies continue to integrate AI solutions, the focus on security within this framework establishes a precedent for future collaborative efforts in the industry.