New Internship Program Matches Students with Growing Maine Companies

The University of Maine’s Foster Center for Student Innovation is seeking motivated, innovative Maine college students and Maine companies who want to make a difference for Maine through a new internship program supported by the
Blackstone Charitable Foundation.

The Innovate for Maine program, which is now accepting applications, offers paid internship positions that place students with companies to receive training in innovation and entrepreneurship and real-world job experience. Other benefits include potential academic credit and networking opportunities with Maine businesses and other students. For more information and to download the application form, go to http://foster.target.maine.edu/the-center/events/102-internships-now-available.

Applications are also available for Maine companies looking for summer interns. Innovate for Maine will match interns with companies developing innovative new products or services and seeking to significantly grow revenues and employment. Based on company size, the initiative will assist companies with matching funds to support an intern. For more information on matching funds and to download the application form, visit
http://foster.target.maine.edu/the-center/events/108-summer-intern-for-your-business.

Innovate for Maine interns will participate in an intensive week of preparation before beginning their internships. The mandatory “boot camp” will include training in UMaine’s cutting-edge program in Innovation Engineering, a systematic process for developing and testing breakthrough innovations. In addition, students will learn more about Maine’s entrepreneurial landscape and the Blackstone Accelerates Growth project and network with entrepreneurial leaders.

The Innovate for Maine initiative is funded by Blackstone Accelerates Growth, a $3 million, three-year initiative designed to provide Maine entrepreneurs leading start-up and existing companies the coaching and training they need to accelerate growth. The project is funded by the Blackstone Charitable Foundation through its five-year Entrepreneurship Initiative, which is dedicated to fostering innovation that leads to significant economic and job growth.

“There are a number of Maine companies developing new innovations that are eager for talented students who understand the innovation process,” said Renee Kelly, co-director of the Foster Center. “By matching students trained in innovation engineering with these companies, we hope to help the companies grow while helping Maine students see that there are great opportunities to work and stay in Maine after they graduate.”

The application deadline for student internships is March 30. The deadline for companies to apply for interns is April 13.

Innovate for Maine is open to students who are matriculated in a degree program attending any college in Maine and students originally from Maine attending college elsewhere.

Interns can work full- or part-time during the summer, part-time during the academic year, and in some cases students may be able to work for the summer and continue their internships during the academic year.

For more information about UMaine’s innovation engineering program, go to http://foster.target.maine.edu/students/what-is-innovation-engineering.

Contact: Renee Kelly, rekelly@maine.edu or (207) 581-1401; Jessica Bloch, jessica.bloch@umit.maine.edu or (207) 581-3777