| Funding & Research Announcements |
Funding for Renewable Energy Available
The Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Program, through USDA Rural Development, offers grants, guaranteed loans and combination grant/guaranteed loans to help agricultural producers and rural small businesses purchase and install renewable energy systems and make energy efficiency improvements in rural areas. Helpful information about this program can be found by clicking on Energy Program- Or call 207-990-9168.
State EPSCoR Updates
The NSF EPSCoR process has begun for the 2009 Research Infrastructure Improvement Grant. Informational white papers are due January 7. Interested faculty can attend the January 16th NSF EPSCoR Networking meeting (from noon-4:30pm at the Buchanan Alumni Center, UMO) without submitting a white paper since that meeting is the primary tool for networking and determining the variety of projects ideas that exist for the highly competitive awards of $3 million per year for five years. Check website or call 207-581-3399.
The announcement for the 2008 NASA EPSCoR Research competition was released in December by NASA. Download a copy of the announcement . | |
 |
Notes from the
Director of Office of Innovation
Catherine Renault highlights networking opportunities and underscores
Office of Innovation activities.
Get involved in STEM issues
The New Year brings a renewed commitment to moving the science and technology agenda forward in Maine.
With this commitment comes the challenge to adjust our workforce to face this rapidly changing, innovation-driven, global economy. Anyone who works in research and development in the state knows that our students need to be academically stronger in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields than they are today.
Recent data from the Maine Department of Labor reports 40% of the industries in Maine from 2004-2014 will be science, technology engineering and math related. However, the College Board reported only 38% of Maine high school students intend to pursue a science, technology engineering and mathematics related field as compared to 44% nationally.
A recent survey, conducted on behalf of the Maine Mathematics and Science Alliance, revealed that Maine residents believe that emphasizing more math and science education is important for the youth of Maine. At a time when the intellectual competition is increasing both nationally and internationally in the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, this support transcends across political, economic, geographic and educational backgrounds.
To determine how to better align students aspirations toward more science, technology engineering and math (STEM), the Maine Mathematics and Science Alliance will present a statewide STEM Summit on January, 24, 2008 in Augusta. The goal of the STEM Summit is to raise awareness of key constituencies of the importance of STEM education for Maine's future, its connection to the economic prosperity of Maine, and to commit to improving STEM education in Maine. Educators, businesses, researchers and policy makers will review current student programs and announce a new STEM network of interested organizations and individuals.
I encourage you to join the Office of Innovation and resolve to be involved in this important issue. For more details, call 287-6491 or visit www.mmsa.org.
Other events for your consideration include:
Maine's Energy Portfolio: What does it look like now? What should it look like in the future? How do we get there?
To find out more, plan to attend the Camden Conference: Energy Symposium on Saturday, February 9. 2008. The event will be held at the Hutchinson Center in Belfast, Maine from 8:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. For details call (207) 236-1034 or email info@camdenconference.org
"Green Chemistry" improves environmental sustainability and helps meet developing requirements
The conference on "Alternative Products and Green Chemistry" will be held February 7, 2008 at the Northeast Utilities conference center in Berlin, Connecticut. The agenda includes feature talks and workshops by the two founders of the Green Chemistry movement based on training chemists and engineers in the principles of designing and utilizing safer chemicals by including environmental and occupational effects as essential criteria in the design phase.
Go to the conference website.
| | |
|
Maine Office of Innovation Newsletter
Welcome to the January issue of Mainely Innovations. This monthly e-newsletter is designed to capture information important to Maine's innovation community. We encourage you to contribute your news and highlights. Submit your info to jennifer.dechant@maine.gov. |
|
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
Tough budget decisions ahead in Maine
In the coming months, governors from across the nation will present their State of the State Addresses and release their budget recommendations. While it remains to be seen what states can and cannot afford to fund, shoring up and securing client and legislative support should be happening now for most states, regardless of their financial forecast.
Here in Maine, lawmakers start the new session faced with filling a $95.2 million deficit in the general fund over the 2008-09 biennium. The Revenue Forecasting Committee released its revenue projections through fiscal years ending 2011 for the general fund, highway fund, fund for a healthy Maine and medicaid-dedicated revenue taxes. While Maine has not been as severely affected by the sub-prime mortgage crisis as other states, the skyrocketing cost of oil poses a significant problem for our economy, according to the document. The decrease in general fund revenue was led by sales and use tax revenues, which were down $21 million for FY08 and $19.6 million in FY09. The only major tax line to show improvement in FY08 was the individual income tax, which was raised by $18 million.
Despite this financial forecast there are a few innovation-based economic development proposals that we will track this session. Watch Governor Baldacci's State of the State address Wednesday, January 9 at 7pm broadcast on MPBN television.
Federal level: Experts, officials evaluate benefits of energy bill to ethanol
Some analysts say the goals set by Congress for the ethanol industry as part of the recently passed compromise energy bill may be too broad and ambitious. The new legislation includes bolstering the production of biofuel crops, which also would require increasing biomass production and addressing significant transportation and logistics costs.
|
Company News
Information on how companies and research institutions are moving Maine forward.
Governor Celebrates Maine's First Ethanol Distribution Facility
In December, Governor John E. Baldacci joined officials from Safe Handling at the opening ceremony for the first ethanol terminal in the state. The Governor commended Safe Handling for its environmental stewardship and leadership in support of alternative, clean, renewable energy.
Safe Handling has been bringing biodiesel into the state by rail. According to the company, increased interest from Maine businesses has led to the construction of the new facility in Auburn. Additionally, Safe Handling has employed environmentally friendly practices, spreading the word about achieving success in the business world by going green.
The Maine Center for Enterprise Development celebrates 10th Anniversary
As part of the reception celebrating entrepreneurship and innovation, John Ferland, MCED President gave a retrospective 10th Anniversary message emphasizing how far the technology incubator had come, explained the vision for the 2nd decade, and acknowledged the following companies as they "graduate" from the incubator:
CrossRate Technology
CrossRate Technology, led by Zachariah Conover (President/CEO) and Michael Leathem, is a leader in high reliability position, navigation, and time receivers.
Frontier Energy
Frontier Energy, founded by Joel Glatz and Brad Taylor, is the first full-service oil company in the nation to offer retail bioheat fuel, and Maine's first distributor of blended biodiesel for transportation.
MediCreative
MediCreative, owned by Rebecca Stockbridge, provides graphic and web design services to medical professionals to help doctors create a brand identity and web presence for their practice.
MESDA changes name to TechMaine
For years the name MESDA, an acronym for Maine Software Developer's Association, has been connected with technology in Maine. The new year brings a new name for the Westbrook-based technology trade association. According the executive director, Joe Kumiszcza, Technology Association of Maine, or TechMaine for short, better reflects their broad membership that includes software developers to biotech and IT firms.
In a recent MaineBiz article, Kumiszcza discussed his proposal for economic growth within the technology-based sector. Read more about TechMaine's several ambitious plans, including creating a software testing center and pushing for a $100 million venture capital fund that could invest in technology start-ups in the state. Click for article.
Quebec Defense and Security Mission - February 13-16, 2008
From February 13-16, the Maine International Trade Center will be leading a small delegation to Quebec City. This mission is intended to provide matchmaking for Maine companies interested in setting up partnerships with Canadian defense firms and research and development operations. Quebec is a hub of the Canadian defense industry, receiving 22% of Canada's domestic defense spending, supporting over 80 companies, 800 researchers, and 6,000 employees. For more information, contact Jeff Bennett at (207) 990-3161, e-mail jbennett@mitc.com. |
|
Policy, Research & Resources
Check for information on federal resources and research that will impact Maine and could impact your work in science and technology.
Results of Maine Comprehensive Research and Development Evaluation expected in January
Maine is one of a few states to evaluate its research and development strategies on an annual basis. Using the 2005 Science and Technology Action Plan for Maine as a guide and with advice and consent from the Maine Office of Innovation, the report is based on feedback from interviews with companies and research entities. This information is used to addresses five constructed questions and evaluate the R&D-related goals and objectives.
The report is due to be released by the end of January. Please check www.maineinnovation.com.
Scientists plan to bring biotech chestnut trees into the forest
Forestry scientists in the U.S. are developing chestnut trees that can resist pests and survive in East Coast forests. Experts say the biotech trees have the potential to help the environment through conservation and partially reversing the impact of humans.
Read how this could impact trees in Maine.
Study Finds Angel Groups Receive Returns Consistent with Other Investments
By nature, angel investing is a risky endeavor. Angels are often involved with unproven seed- and early-stage companies and are frequently the first outside investors to become involved in a new venture. Despite these risks, a report released by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and the Angel Capital Education Foundation argues that angel investors working through investor groups often achieve attractive returns. Although only about half of all angel deals result in a profitable return, angels who maintain a portfolio of investments and have the resources to devote to extensive due diligence and company oversight frequently see returns that are competitive with other types of equity investment.
The authors of the report, Robert Wiltbank of Willamette University and Warren Boeker of the University of Washington, conducted a survey of 539 active angel investors to find out more about their background and the results they had seen from their investments. Since there are no legal reporting requirements for angels, the sample was limited to investors who are associated with angel groups.
Read "Returns to Angel Investors in Groups" |
|
Each newsletter will present information relevant to Company News, Funding & Research Announcements, Policy, Research & Resources along with Legislative Updates. Please feel free to contribute news and information relevant to your work. Forward your information to jennifer.dechant@maine.gov.
Maine Office of Innovation |
|
|
