Goals

This plan is organized around five goals, each of which is integral to achieving the vision. Goal 1 addresses funding and the prioritization of R&D that directly supports Maine industries. Goal 2 focuses on commercialization. Goal 3 tackles workforce development. Goal 4 outlines R&D’s role in addressing climate change. Goal 5 calls for improvements to Maine’s R&D ecosystem.

These reflect a return to the style of goals used in Maine’s 2010 plan, rather than the state-rank goals proposed in 2017. The latter sought to improve Maine’s rank within the Milken Institute’s Science and Technology Index. Understanding Maine’s position relative to other states is essential, but changes to it are due as much to decisions made outside Maine as within it. The goals and metrics in this report offer more clarity and accountability to Maine leaders.

This section explains the five goals, highlights some of the activities and institutions that are moving Maine toward them, and explains the resources or actions needed to accelerate this movement.

Goal 1: Increase R&D to 3% of GDP while focusing on activities that directly support Maine industries

Summary:

This long-term goal calls for a transformational increase in R&D — large enough to push Maine onto a permanently higher growth path. This is not simply a request of state government. Rather, it is a challenge to all Maine institutions, businesses, and organizations involved in R&D. It embraces the contributions of researchers across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors, and prioritizes activities that result in tangible opportunities for Maine businesses.

Background:

R&D activity in Maine totaled about $685 million in 2019, the most recent year available. (12) This equaled 1% of the state’s gross domestic product (GDP), compared to the national average of about 3%. By this measure, Maine ranked 44th of the 50 states. It lagged other states in private sector and university R&D investments relative to GDP, while the nonprofit sector contributed a relatively high proportion of spending. Things have likely changed since then, but this ranking suggests the need for heightened emphasis in all areas if Maine is to be a competitive state in attracting new R&D-intensive businesses.

Although Maine’s R&D spending is modest by national standards, it supports critical pockets of employment, innovation, and growth. Traditional industries such as agriculture, fishing, and forestry have benefited from long-standing partnerships with Maine’s public universities. Newer industries like bioscience have grown through sustained investments by private and nonprofit organizations, supported by federal and state public funds.

The Maine Economic Improvement Fund (MEIF) has supported many of these partnerships. The Legislature created MEIF in the 1990s to support commercially promising R&D within the University of Maine System. Three-quarters of MEIF dollars g to the flagship University of Maine, where annual R&D funding has increased from $25 million when MEIF started to over $150 million today. This work has helped UMS develop the strategic capacity to support hundreds of small businesses and thousands of jobs by developing new products and processes. (13) For every $1 in MEIF funding, UMS leverages $6 in co-investment.

Maine has made additional valuable R&D investments since MIEAB created its last plan in 2017. Shortly thereafter, voters passed a $50 million bond to fund the Maine Technology Asset Fund 2.0. To date, this has created 1,770 jobs and been matched by over $224 million in private funds. (14)

In 2018, the UMS Board of Trustees identified research and economic development as its top strategic priority. (15) The following year, it embraced a new, coordinated approach to R&D across its seven campuses. It focused squarely on research and economic development that supports Maine industries, and emphasized the System’s “ample capacity to grow research partnerships with the private sector, as well as commercialization outputs of university research.” (16) These efforts are beginning to yield fruit. In 2021, the University of Maine’s R&D expenditures reached nearly $150 million, a record high, and in 2022 it became the first Maine institution to earn an R1 Carnegie Classification for very high research activity.

In 2020, Northeastern University launched the Roux Institute in Portland, an ambitious initiative to grow talent in artificial intelligence (AI) and other advanced technologies. The institute, made possible by the vision and philanthropy of David and Barbara Roux, is partnering with Maine companies to advance workforce skills through graduate education and research opportunities. It seeks to transform Portland into a hub for innovation.

In 2022, Maine Governor Janet Mills and the state Legislature directed millions in COVID relief funds to research, including $40 million for the Pandemic Recovery for an Innovative Maine Economy (PRIME) initiative. These funds are supporting innovation within the seven targeted technology sectors listed in Appendix IV.

Public funds have supported significant investments of private dollars, such as the Jackson Laboratory’s $160 million Charles E. Hewitt Center (including $1.7 million from the Maine Technology Asset Fund (MTAF)), C&L Aerospace’s facility expansion in Bangor ($2.6 million from MTAF), and Bristol Seafood’s $5 million investment in its processing facility ($740,000 from MTAF).

Maine’s congressional delegation has been an important ally to its research institutions, successfully securing tens of millions annually to bolster R&D activities across industry and academia. In the FY23 federal budget alone, Maine Senators Susan Collins and Angus King, and Representatives Chellie Pingree and Jared Golden collectively secured more than $50 million in direct appropriations for R&D activities and related infrastructure at the University of Maine, Bigelow Laboratory of Ocean Sciences, the Jackson Laboratory, Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory, and the Downeast Institute for Marine Research.

This goal calls for building on these successes to significantly increase the overall level of R&D occurring at Maine’s public, private, and nonprofit institutions; prioritizing sectors that build on Maine’s historical comparative advantages; and jumpstarting economic activity across the state. Increasing R&D spending from 1% to 3% of GDP would mean going from $500 million–$600 million annually (the current level) to about $2 billion per year.

Actions:

To reach this goal, MIEAB recommends that Maine:

Build on Existing Strengths and Assets:

Leverage investments in activities that help Maine develop the critical mass of talent and commerce needed for transformational growth.

Postsecondary Institutions:

Further expand the R&D and commercialization capacity of Maine’s public, private, and nonprofit research institutions, and incentivize collaboration among them. Increase funding for the critical Maine Economic Improvement Fund, while documenting return on investment and prioritizing partnerships with private entities, local communities, and other institutions.

Tax Credits:

Review, improve, reinstate, and expand state R&D tax credits to be more broadly applicable (including commercialization activities in partnership with Maine research institutions) and less difficult to document.

Public Funding:

Create a dependable source of state dollars for R&D investments and expand the Maine Technology Institute’s budget to reflect the full potential for innovation within companies at all stages of development, including early-stage R&D activities.

Federal Grants:

Increase matching grants and technical assistance for Maine companies and research institutions applying for federal R&D grants and contracts, Small Business Innovation Research, and Small Business Technology Transfer opportunities.

National Labs:

Provide direct support to strengthen partnerships between Maine research institutions and national research institutions, including national laboratories.

Measurement:

Building on existing systems, MIEAB will monitor the state’s R&D spending as reported by the Maine Economic Growth Council in its annual Measures of Growth report.

JAX

Cancer is the leading cause of death in Maine, attributable to over 3,400 deaths in the state in 2020. Cancer incidence is also a chronic problem, with rates in Piscataquis, Penobscot and Hancock counties exceeding the rest of the state. Over the long term, cancer mortality is steadily decreasing, due in part to declines in smoking, enhanced early detection, and more effective treatments designed and tested using mouse models.

The Jackson Laboratory, a nonprofit research institution based in Bar Harbor, is the leading distributor of mouse models in the U.S., including strains specifically designed for immuno- oncology — a therapeutic strategy that uses the immune system to recognize and destroy cancer cells. The JAX Charles E. Hewett Center in Ellsworth is home to several strains of this highly important research mouse, including the NSG™ mouse used in precision immuno-oncology research.

The Hewett Center is the product of JAX innovation and investments by the state of Maine through the Maine Technology Institute. A $1.7 million grant (matched dollar-for-dollar by JAX), helped the laboratory design and pilot systems for its “next-generation vivarium.” A subsequent award of $12.5 million from the Maine Technology Asset Fund 2.0, matched by a JAX investment of over $67 million, saw the Ellsworth project through its second phase of construction.

Now in its fourth and final phase of construction, the Ellsworth campus will be fully built-out by January 2024, bringing a total of 370 R&D jobs to Hancock County, made possible by a total JAX investment of over $250 million. The laboratory mice raised at the Hewett Center will continue to deliver a strong return on state investment by sustaining jobs, generating regional economic growth, and helping to develop cancer therapies.

MaineHealth

Innovation Formed in 2020, MaineHealth Innovation leverages the ideas, insights, and expertise of care team members throughout the MaineHealth system to develop novel solutions to unmet care needs. Through programs such as the Innovation Cohort and the Innovation Fund, MaineHealth Innovation builds connections to drive diversity of thought, educates to produce creative problem- solvers, and funds to accelerate ideas. The work has resulted in real improvements in care and service available to the system’s over one million patients.

Like many rural places, Norway, Maine, has a shortage of eyecare specialists and 40% of the area’s’ approximately 13,000 patients with diabetes were not receiving recommended retinopathy screenings. Dr. Brain Nolan saw an opportunity to incorporate these screenings into patients’ routine primary care appointments via AI screening tools. Nolan formed a team, including medical assistants Billijoe Prech-Child, Brianna Walker, and Sadie Kenney, to advance this opportunity, and applied for funding through the MaineHealth Innovation Fund.

MaineHealth awarded the team $20,000 to purchase an EyeArt AI Screening System and cover initial screenings. This funding has led to an increase in diabetic retinopathy screenings, and patients can receive results at the end of their normal primary care appointments.

MaineHealth Innovation helps make projects like this a reality and continues to expand its programs, infrastructure and partnerships. Most importantly, MaineHealth Innovation is fostering a culture of innovation to support MaineHealth’s vision of working together so its communities are the healthiest in America.

Goal 2: Strengthen pathways to successful commercialization

Summary:

Turning knowledge into commercial success requires entrepreneurship and innovation within enterprises. This goal calls for strengthening the educational, financial, and social supports to help new businesses succeed.

Background:

Across Maine, there are thriving businesses whose products and services are rooted in innovations by Maine research institutions. The state’s bioscience industry continues a tradition begun more than a century ago by the nonprofit Jackson Laboratory and the Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory, and expanded in the 1970s by the Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, Ventrex Laboratories, and the former Foundation for Blood Research. (17) Now it includes the for-profit companies IDEXX and Covetrus, which employ thousands of Maine workers. Similarly, the wood products industry now encompasses a huge range of biobased materials and products thanks to decades of industry-supported research at the University of Maine. There are innumerable examples of innovation and successful commercialization across sectors as diverse as boat building, software, medical devices, food production, clean energy, and the space industry. Yet the full potential of R&D to generate new businesses has not yet been realized. For example, offshore wind, an industry where Maine’s unique potential is only beginning to emerge, is estimated to be a $70 billion revenue opportunity in the next decade. (18)

Maine has a vibrant network of organizations that support and connect entrepreneurs, and has established tools for leveraging private and public funds through initiatives such as the Maine Technology Institute (MTI), Maine Venture Fund, Focus Maine, Coastal Enterprises, Inc., and the Finance Authority of Maine. These initiatives support innovation at both new and established companies.

Maine’s commercialization investments over the past 25 years have yielded positive results, yet they have not been sufficient to generate transformational gains. In 2020, Maine ranked 33rd of the 50 states in terms of risk capital and entrepreneurial infrastructure, down from 29th in 2018. (19) This rank reflects comparatively low levels of venture capital activity; patents; business formation; nanotechnology, clean technology and biotechnology investments; and federal Small Business Investment Company funding.

Actions:

In addition to investing in Maine’s workforce and raising R&D funding as described in Goal 1, MIEAB recommends the following actions to strengthen pathways to commercialization:

Start-ups:

Increase funding and incentives to support and expand Maine’s successful business incubators. Better support innovative new companies that face high up-front costs or long timelines to commercialization.

Existing Companies:

Strengthen R&D and commercialization support for existing companies that are ready to grow, including improved access to R&D capabilities at the state’s research institutions, and improved “matchmaking.”

Incentives:

Increase incentives and support structures for the commercialization of licensed intellectual property from Maine research institutions.

Entrepreneurs:

Foster the next generation of entrepreneurs and innovators through academic and experiential programming in Maine’s elementary, middle, and high schools, Career Technical Education centers, and institutions of higher education.

Regulatory Framework:

Facilitate research on permitting, standards, and other regulatory issues that can affect the timely commercialization of R&D- driven discoveries.

Measurement:

Building on existing systems, MIEAB will monitor the Maine Economic Growth Council’s annual report of Maine’s ratio of start-ups to closures in Measures of Growth.

GO Lab

GO Lab, Inc., a privately held building products company, was founded in 2017 with one purpose — to manufacture high-performance wood fiber insulation in North America under the brand name TimberHP.

Led by President Joshua Henry, the company seeks to grow Maine’s economy and create new jobs through sustainable and collaborative means. In this effort, GO Lab acquired a mill in Madison that closed in 2016 after decades of operation. The site will produce TimberHP wood fiber insulation, beginning later this year, and is projected to employ about 120 people at full operation.

TimberHP builds on wood fiber’s two-decade legacy of proven market success in Europe, offering safe, cost-competitive, sustainable insulation solutions. TimberHP is a value-added, innovative product line for Maine’s new forest economy.

In its early stages, GO Lab participated in the UMaine-facilitated Big Gig pitch competition and the Bangor-region Top Gun accelerator program. Early R&D collaborations included work with UMaine’s Advanced Structures and Composites Center (ASCC) to test the response of wood fiber insulation boards to a variety of adhesives.

As GO Lab renovates the former mill in Madison and prepares to begin manufacturing TimberHP wood fiber insulation there, the university remains a valued partner for the company. Current collaborations include ongoing work with both ASCC and the School of Forest Resources at UMaine on product testing data monitoring of wood fiber insulated CLT buildings. In addition, discussions are underway exploring next generation technologies to enhance wood fiber board insulation with weather-resistant barriers and biobased adhesives.

Goal 3: Prepare an innovation workforce

Summary:

At the heart of it all, it is about people. This goal seeks to expand the science and technology skills of Maine’s workforce, preparing residents of all ages to innovate and find opportunity in today’s economy, and providing businesses the workers they need to grow.

Background:

Maine is experiencing a very tight labor market. Business leaders recently ranked the availability of entry-level, skilled technical, and professional workers as more concerning than historic issues such as taxes and the cost of doing business. (20) In addition to the housing and recessionary challenges facing many states, Maine’s population is among the oldest in the nation, and the number of young people entering the workforce is too small to meet the needs of growing companies.

This challenge is occurring despite the significant progress Maine has made in terms of educational attainment in recent decades. The percentage of adults with a four-year degree or higher has grown from 23% in 2000 to 36% in 2020. (21) The importance of education or training beyond high school both for individuals and the broader Maine economy is now widely accepted.

Maine’s progress reflects important investments in workforce development. In 2003, its technical colleges officially transitioned to community colleges in recognition of their expanding role. Since then, enrollment has risen over 50%. (22) Fall headcount 2002 (10,127) compared to 2020 (15,948). In 2015, the community colleges and the University of Maine System signed a comprehensive transfer agreement to reduce both student cost and the time needed to complete a degree. In 2022, Maine’s governor and Legislature made community college free for all recent high school graduates.

The Student Loan Repayment Tax Credit (formerly the Educational Opportunity Tax Credit) helps Maine attract and retain residents with college degrees by offering student loan debt relief. In 2016, the state increased benefits for holders of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) degrees by making their credits fully refundable. This benefit can help recruit new talent to Maine. (23)

Despite this progress and existing incentives, Maine lacks the critical mass of both entry-level workers and skilled technical workers (including STEM professionals) needed to build and attract large, innovative companies. According to the Milken Institute, Maine ranks 41st of the 50 states in terms of human capital in the STEM fields, down from 37th in 2018. (24) Moreover, student scores in math and reading have fallen over the past decade. (25) Students in rural and low-income communities, where the introduction of engineering concepts in pre- kindergarten through grade 12 is less common, may have further barriers.

Efforts are underway to build resiliency in Maine’s workforce. Expanding the talent pool is one of three goals of the state’s ten-year economic strategy released in 2019 (along with increasing wages and value-added per worker), and the plan recognizes the importance of investing in educator preparation and professional development to improve outcomes in PreK-12 education.

Several structural reforms are improving Maine’s workforce development system:

Teacher Preparation and Professional Development:

PreK-12 educators and organizations such as the Maine Math and Science Alliance, Educate Maine, the University of Maine’s Maine Center for Research in STEM Education, and the Maine Discovery Museum have expanded programs to provide teachers with experiential learning resources to use with students to support their understanding of STEM concepts using evidence-based practices.

Micro-credentials:

The University of Maine System, the Maine Community College System, and PreK-12 education partners have worked together to develop a common framework for micro-credentials that are less comprehensive than a full degree program but still provide rigorous training. The University of New England also has a badge/micro-credential program. These short, specialized programs are important for employers seeking specific skill sets and for older students looking to upgrade their credentials while working.

Promotion of Opportunities at Innovative Companies:

Many young people are unaware of the world-class innovation happening in Maine, and the career opportunities it affords. New programs such as the Maine Science Festival, launched in 2015, are introducing students and their families to the many ways science and technology are being used in Maine. Long-standing programs such as the Maine State Science Fair are increasing students’ capacity to do original research and connecting them to postsecondary education through over $800,000 in scholarship commitments from higher education partners. Innovate for Maine Fellows connect college students with some of the state’s most successful companies, showing them opportunities for meaningful careers close to home. Maine Career Catalyst strengthens connections to the state among summer internships at Maine companies.

The state of Maine is piloting a high school internship program through the Maine Jobs and Recovery Plan, and several organizations are developing industry-specific opportunities in growing sectors like aquaculture, clean energy, and sustainable materials. To attract new residents, Live and Work in Maine promotes opportunities at innovation-based employers to people interested in moving to Maine. MaineHealth, the state’s largest employer, promotes innovation through its MaineHealth Innovation Center, which provides training and funding to help its 22,000 employees explore creative approaches to providing and improving care.

Statewide Collaborative STEM Partnerships:

Maine EPSCoR is strengthening the state’s workforce by leveraging federal funding. Their current National Science Foundation EPSCoR Track-1 program (Maine-eDNA) will increase STEM engagement and success among key constituents, and develop innovative educational models and curriculum materials that can be disseminated both statewide and nationally.

Inclusivity:

Maine will need the full contributions of every resident if it is to grow its workforce. Programs like Project Login’s Girls Who Code encourage BIPOC (26) and female students who have been historically underrepresented in STEM fields. New Mainers Resource Center helps immigrants and refugees translate their prior education and work experiences into U.S. credentials that will allow them to join the workforce at a level appropriate to their training. The Third Space in Portland provides networking and supports to BIPOC entrepreneurs and emerging leaders. Programs like these are important to Maine’s economic future.

Actions:

These efforts are growing Maine’s PreK-12 STEM workforce, but more is needed to realize the full potential of R&D to catalyze economic growth. MIEAB recommends the following actions:

Student Research:

Increase recruitment and retention of students by introducing them to research early in their education and providing opportunities for more hands-on research as their knowledge grows.

Career Exploration:

Expand students’ understanding of different professions and help them see where they might fit into the workforce. Internships in STEM fields introduce students to opportunities within Maine and can be especially impactful for underrepresented minorities, females, rural students, and first-generation college students.

Career Pathways:

Help students of all ages navigate efficient paths through the coursework and credentials needed to advance in their chosen careers.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion:

Encourage the talent and contributions of all Maine people by removing barriers to education and employment for groups that have been traditionally underrepresented, including those facing generational poverty and new Mainers. Increase opportunities for paid experiences in STEM, research, and entrepreneurship programs to allow participation from all groups.

Online and Flexible STEM Programs:

Create flexible and accessible opportunities for adult learners and professionals already in the workforce to upgrade their skills and credentials as new opportunities emerge.

Industry 4.0 Training:

Expand training programs that teach interested workers and their employers how to use emerging technologies and real-time data to improve manufacturing and business operations.

Extracurricular Experiences:

Support the important role of extracurricular experiences, such as festivals, STEM competitions, and field trips, in sparking interest in science and technology among young people and others exploring career options.

Measurement:

Building on existing systems, MIEAB will monitor levels of educational attainment as reported by Educate Maine in its annual Education Indicators report.

AMP Fins

AMP Fins, based in Presque Isle, develops prosthetic fins that allow people who have lost limbs to engage in swimming and scuba diving. Designed and produced in Maine, these products are meeting the needs of amputees worldwide and promote inclusive access to physical activity.

Randy Lord, the catalyst for AMP Fins, lost part of his leg in an industrial accident. Longing to feel “whole” again, he and his wife Lori Lord began creating prototypes. Their first product, Custom Mold Fin, can be formed to meet each user’s needs for all aquatic situations. AMP Fins’ second product, the Mechanical Fin, was designed at the request of a clinical rehabilitation team at Walter Reed Military Medical Center and is now used in rehabilitation programs nationwide. With two designs for below- and above-knee amputees and video guidance for consumers, AMP Fins promotes inclusivity and accessibility.

Goal 4: Help businesses & communities thrive in the face of climate change

Summary:

Maine industries and communities will face critical, even existential, challenges due to climate change. Some already are. Maine’s R&D community must be a ready source of knowledge and innovation to help them adapt and thrive — helping farmers develop new crops and production methods, supporting Maine’s forest products industry to meet global demand for climate-friendly forest products, expanding solar, wind and tidal energy generation and storage, helping marine industries adapt to changing oceans, and more.

Background:

Climate change is having increasingly costly impacts on natural systems and human economies worldwide. Maine is seeing warmer temperatures, less winter snowfall, rising sea levels, and increasing annual precipitation, in conjunction with a shift toward more extreme weather events. These changes are affecting both terrestrial and marine environments, and have profound implications for human health and natural resources.

Over the past century, Maine’s statewide average annual temperature has increased by about 3°F. (27) The average duration of winter (measured by temperature and snowfall) has declined by about two weeks, while summers have lengthened. (28) Maine’s growing season is now sixteen days longer, on average, than in 1950. (29) Average annual precipitation has increased by about 6 inches since 1895.

Climate models show Maine could warm another 2-4°F by 2050 and by up to 10°F by 2100. Precipitation will increase, particularly during winter and spring. (30) And warming temperatures will further increase the potential for extreme weather, including heavy precipitation.

These temperature and precipitation changes will have tangible impacts on Maine residents and businesses, including:

Health: The northward spread of invasive species and vector-borne diseases such as Lyme, and increased high heat-index days and heat- related illness
Agriculture: A longer growing season and potential for new crop types, but increased evaporation and the exacerbation of drought or dryness, and introduction of new pests and crop diseases
Water: Reduction in water quality due to erosion, flooding, or algal growth, and drought-induced water scarcity
Infrastructure: Threats to public infrastructure from weather-induced damage and sea level rise, capacity to handle increased seasonal energy demands, and increased demand for renewable energy systems and energy storage

Changes on land will be accompanied by changes at sea. The Gulf of Maine (GOM) is among the most rapidly warming regions of the global ocean, (31) and its marine ecosystem is losing its subarctic characteristics. (32) Climate models indicate the GOM’s average annual sea-surface temperature could warm 1-3°F by 2050 and 1-7°F by 2100.

By the end of this century, sea level is projected to rise 3–5 feet based on an intermediate scenario of glacier melting. In its 2020 climate assessment report, the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee of the Maine Climate Council recommended planning for 1.5 feet of sea level rise by 2050 and 3.9 feet by 2100. (33) However, based on the large uncertainties in these projections, the subcommittee also suggested preparing for 3 feet of rise by 2050 and 8.8 feet by 2100.

A warming, rising ocean will have numerous impacts on Maine’s marine industries and coastal communities, including:

Significant changes to the GOM marine ecosystem, fisheries, and aquaculture
Increased species migration pressures
Ocean acidification caused by increasing CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere
Increased coastal flooding and erosion, threatening civil infrastructure
Increased potential for saltwater intrusion of coastal drinking water aquifers; and
Landward shifting of coastal beaches, dunes, salt marshes, and bluffs in response to erosion

In 2003, Maine became the first U.S. state to set a target for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, which it met when emissions were reduced to 10% below 1990 levels in 2012. In 2019, further legislation set the goal of reducing emissions 45% below 1990 levels by 2030 and 80% by 2050, and established the Maine Climate Council to guide achievement of these requirements. In 2019, the most recent year available, emissions were 23% below 1990 levels, meaning the state is continuing to progress toward its 2030 goal. (34)(Maine also has a statutory goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2045.)

Building on this progress, the Maine Climate Council released a comprehensive climate action plan in 2020. (35) Its core goals are to reduce GHG emissions, avoid the impacts and cost of inaction, foster economic opportunity, and advance climate equity.

Actions:

Public, private, and nonprofit research institutions can be vital providers of innovation and expertise as Maine pursues these goals and adapts to climate change. Given the diverse, complex nature of this challenge, activities will look very different across the many sectors included in this plan. They include:

Clean Energy:

Expand Maine’s clean energy portfolio by catalyzing the creation of distributed and large-scale renewable energy facilities and energy storage, and modernizing existing energy infrastructure.

Local Food and Agricultural Resilience:

Increase consumption of foods produced in state and promote climate-smart, high-tech agricultural practices.

Fisheries Resilience:

Help Maine’s fishing industry anticipate and adapt to the interactive effects of ocean warming, ocean acidification, and sea level rise.

Carbon Sequestration:

Utilize Maine’s forests and oceans to maximize carbon sequestration through strategic management and the creation of new products, while preserving their economic, environmental, and social value.

Artificial Intelligence (AI):

Use AI to help advance climate-smart practices in agriculture, aquaculture, forestry, fisheries, and related sectors, and research ways to reduce AI’s carbon footprint.

Measurement:

Building on existing systems, MIEAB will monitor GHG emission levels reported biennially by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection.

IDEXX

Artificial Intelligence (AI), the technological mimicry of human decision-making, has perpetrated many realms, including veterinary medicine. Large amounts of data can be tedious and sometimes impossible to analyze in a timely manner. The addition of AI methods in animal health not only conserves time, but promotes sustainability, is cost-efficient, and increases the overall level of care provided.

IDEXX Laboratories in Westbrook, Maine is a chief innovator in the animal healthcare industry. Its diagnostic and software products are used for the treatment of small companion animals, equine, and livestock, and in dairy markets. IDEXX is developing a suite of products and technologies that streamline veterinary medicine.

Part of IDEXX’s incorporation of AI to improve workflow and pet care standards is a recent suite of analyzers. Veterinarians can use these tools to cut down lengthy process and analysis times, generating accurate results in minutes. For instance, IDEXX’s ProCyte One Hematology Analyzer uses sensors to gather information from a blood sample that AI turns into graphical data and interpretive aids within minutes. This information gives clinicians what they need to help make treatment decisions quickly.

The development of AI tools in veterinary medicine goes beyond Maine and helps improve the quality of veterinary care globally.

Marin Skincare

Hiding between the rocks and seaweed of Maine’s coast is a secret to fixing damaged skin: lobsters. Amber Boutiette and Patrick Breeding, co-founders of Marin Skincare, met in their first year at the University of Maine while studying biomedical engineering. While completing their studies, they worked with Robert Bayer, then professor of animal and veterinary sciences in the School of Food and Agriculture. Bayer was researching glycoprotein in American lobsters, Homarus americanus. Glycoproteins, molecules made of carbohydrates and protein chains, are responsible for the regenerative properties of echinoderms, crustaceans, and other marine groups.

Just as the properties of glycoprotein aid lobsters, they also can help repair our own damaged skin barriers, Bayer realized. Boutiette and Breeding jumped on the idea and the three collaborated to create a cream prototype for small-scale testing. Boutiette, who has eczema, used the serum with promising results. Marin Skincare launched in 2020.

Because of lobsters’ role in Maine’s economy and ecology, Marin Skincare prioritized the use of sustainable practices for their lobster products. Glycoproteins are sustainable, natural byproducts of lobsters. To increase efficiency and keep Marin Skincare local, Boutiette and Breeding partnered with Luke’s Lobsters, a Maine-based lobster processor, to ethically collect glycoprotein.

With the support of Maine’s start-up infrastructure, Marin Skincare has become a nationally recognized brand and shown that lobsters’ regenerative properties are among the many secrets of Maine’s ecosystems.

Goal 5: Strengthen Maine’s R&D ecosystem

Summary:

Maine’s R&D ecosystem is the interdependent system of institutions, organizations, agencies, programs, and policies that collectively support research and development across the state. This goal aims to improve the effectiveness of this ecosystem, to increase interaction and collaboration, and to raise public awareness of R&D’s role in economic development.

Background:

Innovation encompasses a range of activities, from basic and applied research to commercialization and production. MIEAB recognizes that a transformative increase in R&D will require strategically aligning the efforts of state government, universities, the private sector, and nonprofit research institutions. All are necessary, supporting different innovation components, and must work together to achieve their full economic potential.

In 2007, the Maine Legislature created MIEAB to provide the leadership and coordination necessary to grow the innovation economy. The board is committed to this mission and prepared to fully execute its statutory duties.

Actions:

MIEAB recommends the following actions to improve Maine’s R&D framework:

Funding Predictability:

Develop a clear schedule and strategy for biennial R&D bonding and state R&D appropriations.

Ecosystem Assessment:

Map Maine’s innovation support ecosystem to identify strengths, gaps, and opportunities to build a more fertile and nationally competitive environment for entrepreneurship, commercialization, and economic progress.

Centralized Information and Marketing:

Develop, resource, and market a central repository of information about Maine’s R&D assets. Establish a central repository and system for intellectual property (IP) protection, and a centralized data base of licensable IP.

Public Engagement:

Increase public understanding of, and trust in, R&D’s role in economic development and its value to Maine businesses and communities.

Measurement:

MIEAB members will monitor progress toward this goal through their ongoing professional activities, and will report on this progress in future plans.

Gulf of Maine Ventures

Gulf of Maine Ventures (GMV) is the business development and impact investment arm of the Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI). Its mission is to catalyze solutions to global ocean challenges by creating, scaling, and investing in innovative blue economy companies. By supporting and investing in companies that offer high-impact solutions, it aims to achieve a resilient, modernized 21st-century marine economy.

To date, GMV has helped two for-profit businesses develop, obtain seed funding, and launch successfully. The first, True Fin, buys high-quality seafood directly from Maine fishermen and delivers it to professional and at-home chefs nationwide. New England Marine Monitoring provides electronic monitoring systems, expert video review, technical support, and program management to New England fishermen. Today, both companies are generating over $2 million in annualized revenue and growing. Between them, they employ over 18 staff members.

Building on this success, GMV’s work focuses on:

Creating and incubating companies from within GMRI or partner research institutions
Working with existing businesses that are implementing innovative solutions to refine their products and scale their business models in preparation for investment
Investing in businesses that have demonstrated strong mission-impact and revenue potential through partnership with investment professionals at Bold Ocean Ventures

12 Camoin Associates.

13 University of Maine System, “Maine Economic Improvement Fund Report 2022,” 2022.

14 Brian Whitney, “Yes, MTI’s MTAF Program was Worth the Investment!” Maine Technology Institute blog, August 31, 2022.

15 University of Maine System, “Research and Development Plan FY20–FY24,” 2019.

16 Ibid, pp. 8.

17 William Hall, “An Industry with a Family Tree: Much of Maine’s Biotech Industry Grew Out of Two Firms,” Mainebiz, April 29, 2019.

18 Stephanie McClellan, “Supply Chain Contracting Forecast for U.S. Offshore Wind Power,” University of Delaware, 2019.

19 Kevin Klowden, Aaron Melaas, Charlotte Kesteven, and Sam Hanigan, “State Technology and Science Index: Sustaining America’s Innovation Economy,” Milken Institute, 2020.

20 Maine State Chamber of Commerce, Maine Development Foundation, and Educate Maine, “Making Maine Work: Critical Investments for the Maine Economy,” July 21, 2022.

21 U.S. Census Bureau, 2000 Decennial Census, 2021 American Community Survey, adults age 25 and older with a bachelor’s degree or higher

22 Maine Community College System, “MCCS Annual Report 2022”, 2022. Fall headcount 2002 (10,127) compared to 2020 (15,948).

23 Penelope Overton, “Maine Considers $42 Million Plan to Lighten College Graduates’ Debt Load,” Portland Press Herald, February 18, 2022.

24 Kevin Klowden, Aaron Melaas, Charlotte Kesteven, and Sam Hanigan, “State Technology and Science Index: Sustaining America’s Innovation Economy,” Milken Institute, 2020.

25 National Assessment of Educational Progress, Data Tools: state Profiles, accessed October 31, 2022.

26 Black, Indigenous, and People of Color

27 Maine Climate Council (MCC) Scientific and Technical Subcommittee, “Scientific Assessment of Climate Change and Its Effects in Maine,” 2020.

28 Birkel, S.D., Mayewski, P.A., 2018. Coastal Maine Climate Futures. Orono, ME: Climate Change Institute, University of Maine. 20 pp. Fernandez, I.J., Schmitt, C.V., Birkel, S.D., Stancioff, E., Pershing, A.J., Kelley, J.T., Runge, J.A., Jacobson, G.L., Mayewski, P.A., 2015. Maine’s Climate Future 2015 Update. Orono, ME: University of Maine. 24 pp.

29 Fernandez, I.J., Birkel, S.D., Schmitt, C.V., Simonson, J., Lyon, B., Pershing, E., Stancioff, E., Jacobson, G., Mayewski, P.A., 2020. Maine’s Climate Future 2020 Update. Orono, ME: University of Maine.

30 Easterling, D.R., K.E. Kunkel, J.R. Arnold, T. Knutson, A.N. LeGrande, L.R. Leung, R.S. Vose, D.E. Waliser, & M.F. Wehner (2017). Precipitation Change in the United States. In: Climate Science Special Report: Fourth National Climate Assessment, Volume I [Wuebbles, D.J., D.W. Fahey, K.A. Hibbard, D.J. Dokken, B.C. Stewart, and T.K. Maycock (eds.)]. U.S. Global Change Research Program, Washington, D.C., U.S.A, pp. 207-230. https://doi.org/10.7930/J0H993CC

31 Pershing AJ, Alexander MA, Hernandez CM, Kerr LA, Le Bris A, Mills KE et al. (2015) Slow Adaptation in the Face of Rapid Warming Leads to Collapse of the Gulf of Maine Cod Fishery. Science 350: 809–812.

32 MCC 2020.

33 Ibid.

34 Maine Department of Environmental Protection, “Ninth Biennial Report on Progress toward Greenhouse Gas Reduction Goals,” July 2022.

35 Maine Climate Council, “Maine Won’t Wait: A Four-Year Plan for Climate Change Action,” December 2020.