Economic Development

Mainebiz highlights UMaine students’ affordable housing presentation

Mainebiz highlighted a presentation on how to bolster affordable housing from University of Maine students Liam O’Brien and Albert Putnam titled “Building Innovation Centers: A holistic approach to education in the built environment.” O’Brien, an interdisciplinary Ph.D. student concentrating in building science, and Putnam, an undergraduate double majoring in construction engineering technology and sustainable materials […]

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NSF selects UMaine and partners for a new hub of innovation and entrepreneurship

The initiative intends to turn research into products, technologies and treatments. The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded the University of Maine and its partner universities $15 million to create the New England Region Innovation Corps (I-Corps) Hub to accelerate the conversion of scientific discoveries into meaningful economic and societal advances. As part of […]

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Construction begins for the first-of-its kind, cutting-edge sustainable manufacturing research facility at UMaine

The University of Maine broke ground today on the Green Engineering and Materials (GEM) building, a 50,000-square-foot facility designed to house the cutting-edge Factory of the Future (FoF) incorporating digital manufacturing technologies and fully adaptive, immersive learning spaces for students at UMaine and across the University of Maine System.  Scheduled for completion in 2026, GEM […]

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‘The Maine Question’ dives into Maine’s blue economy  

The ocean, the plants and animals that reside in it and the coastline it formed are integral to Maine’s economy and culture. While heritage industries like fishing and shipbuilding have persisted for centuries, they and other coastal industries are changing. Climate change and the loss of working waterfront threaten their viability, but new fisheries, products, […]

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Fisher Macklin: Going the distance in food innovation

As a runner, Fisher Macklin has always been interested in food and how it fuels his body as an athlete. During his time at the University of Maine, that interest has grown into a major area of study and a unique on-campus job at the Dr. Matthew Highlands Food Pilot Plant. When Fisher arrived at […]

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Applications for I-Corps October 2024 cohort due Oct. 7

The Office of Strategic Partnerships, Innovation, Resources and Engagement (SPIRE) has opened applications for Cohort 24.1 of the Innovation Corps, or I-Corps, program, which begins on Oct. 17. Applications are due by the close of business on Monday, Oct. 7. I-Corps is a National Science Foundation-funded customer discovery program that teaches faculty, staff and students […]

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UMaine achieves fifth straight year of record-breaking research funding

For the fifth consecutive year, the University of Maine’s research enterprise has achieved all-time high record levels of receiving and expending R&D funding. In fiscal year 2024, the total external funding has reached $225.3 million resulting in a 19% increase over $189.7 million in fiscal year 2023 and a 147% increase over six years. Additionally, […]

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UMaine’s MIRTA accelerator program welcomes four teams into 2024 cohort

Four faculty- and staff-led innovation teams have been selected to participate in the seventh cohort of the University of Maine’s MIRTA accelerator program.  The 2024 projects will involve developing research innovations in environmentally-friendly advanced manufacturing, web privacy protections, water filtration for a group of chemicals known as PFAS, and accelerated soil carbonation to reduce carbon […]

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