Maine\u2019s public universities are at the forefront of fostering innovation and economic growth in your district and across our state.<\/p>\n
Leveraging ongoing State investment in commercially promising research and development (R&D) through the Maine Economic Improvement Fund (MEIF) at a rate of more than 6:1, the University of Maine System (UMS) is driving and diversifying private sector success and workforce development like never before.<\/p>\n
But don\u2019t just take our word for it.<\/p>\n
In this year\u2019s MEIF report to the Legislature, we\u2019re highlighting the voices of small businesses and students speaking about the value of UMS R&D, led by the University of Maine, the state\u2019s flagship and only institution to have achieved the prestigious R1 Carnegie Classification for very high research activity.<\/p>\n
The companies you\u2019ll read about including Compotech, Maine Grains and Timber HP are creating new products and high-paying jobs, increasing productivity and profits, solving industry challenges, improving our environment and quality of life, making food systems safer and more resilient, and expanding their market reach \u2014 all with the help of Maine\u2019s public universities.<\/p>\n
Their stories of partnership and growth illustrate how essential public university R&D is to Maine\u2019s prosperity. As Harvest Maine said about its collaboration with UMaine food scientists \u2014 including Black Bear student researchers \u2014 to turn food waste into a value-added consumer product, \u201cWe could not have gotten this to market without their help.\u201d<\/p>\n
Despite the unmatched rate of return evidenced by testimonials like these, Maine currently invests just 1.1% of its GDP in R&D, far below the national average of 3.6% and 5.7% by other New England states. The condition of our public university research facilities further limits our activity and impact, and we frequently lose world-class faculty to better-resourced institutions in other states.<\/p>\n
Strategic, sustained and growing public investment in UMS including through MEIF would catalyze new innovation and opportunity, attract co-investments, cultivate new talent, and improve lives and livelihoods across Maine. In the meantime, Maine\u2019s public universities are proud of what we\u2019ve accomplished with and for our state\u2019s small businesses.<\/p>\n
We look forward to continuing to work together with leaders like you and our company and community partners to realize the full potential of public university R&D and of Maine\u2019s economy.<\/p>\n
Thank you for your support,<\/p>\n
Dannel Malloy
\nChancellor, University of Maine System<\/p>\n
Joan Ferrini-Mundy
\nVice Chancellor for Research & Innovation, University of Maine System President, University of Maine and University of Maine at Machias<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Maine\u2019s public universities are at the forefront of fostering innovation and economic growth in your district and across our state. Leveraging ongoing State investment in commercially promising research and development (R&D) through the Maine Economic Improvement Fund (MEIF) at a rate of more than 6:1, the University of Maine System (UMS) is driving and diversifying […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1671,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":1,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-3","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\n