Representatives from hundreds of small companies from around New England descended upon the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Warwick. They were given 10 minutes each to make "elevator pitches" competing for billions of dollars in federal military spending.

In all, the four-day “matchmaker” convention brought together representatives from 577 companies and 63 major contractors and government agencies...It was the first time in four years the semiannual event was held in Rhode Island.

Military products must be manufactured in the United States.

Federal rules for most military contracts compel companies to hire small businesses as subcontractors, including firms run by veterans, women and members of minority groups.

Rhode Island companies have long profited from supplying the military, particularly during the Cold War in the late 1980s. Today, the defense industry accounts for 16,000 jobs and generates a $2-billion economic impact, according to a report commissioned last year by the EDC.

Military contracts help employ about one in every five scientists and engineers in Rhode Island, and account for 22 percent of all patents and $63 million in tax revenue, according to the study.

The event was organized by the Procurement Technical Assistance Center, an arm of the Economic Development Corporation funded by the state and the Department of Defense.

Among the attendees were Portsmouth-based A2B Tracking, Providence-based Textron, Quonset Point-based Electric Boat (a division of General Dynamic), and Raytheon.