SSTI Digest

Maine Governor Angus King appointed Dr. Janet Yancey-Warona to serve as the Director for the new Maine Technology Institute.

Massachusetts Manufacturing Extension Partnership is seeking an Executive Director, who will oversee a staff of approximately 20 and a budget of more than $3 million. The successful candidate will be able to create a vision for the growing organization, the leadership skills to achieve that vision, and a strong interest in the growth and success of manufacturing. Applications are due August 9. The Maine Technology Institute (MTI) is seeking a Director to lead MTI and manage its programs, services, budget, and staff. MTI is a new state chartered non-profit corporation that works to encourage, promote, stimulate and support R&D activity leading to the commercialization of new products and services in Maine's seven technology-intensive industrial sectors; to enhance the competitive position of those sectors; to increase the likelihood that one or more of the sectors will support clusters of industrial activity; and, to create new jobs for Maine people. Applications are due August 15. Full descriptions of these openings can be found on the SSTI website at www.ssti.…

Maine Governor Angus King, Jr. and Acting Under Secretary of Commerce for Technology Gary Bachula signed a letter of partnership last week that links the National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST) with a variety of organizations in Maine. Bachula heads the Department of Commerce's Technology Administration (TA), which includes NIST. This is the first such partnership between NIST and a state and is anticipated to serve as a pilot for possible expansion to other states if successful. "I am excited about the prospect of this new teaming arrangement, which should yield positive returns not only to Maine, but to other parts of the country which will benefit from the results of this cooperation. It is a perfect fit for inclusion under the umbrella of the U.S. Innovation Partnership," Bachula said. Building on several existing relationships Maine has established with NIST, the partnership outlines seven new initiatives to explore for further cooperation, including: NIST and TA will offer technical assistance to Maine in designing an infrastructure to maximize…

The Maine Science & Technology Foundation (MSTF) has released the 1998 Maine Science and Technology Report Card, a first look at the state’s performance across twenty science and technology related indicators. MSTF will use the report’s findings to develop benchmarks for the next revision of the state’s biennial strategic science and technology plan, due out this fall. The 20 indicators used in the Report Card are divided among four categories characterizing the state: financial capacity, human capacity, infra-structure capacity, and innovation. Two indicators of economic growth measuring change in employment and in workers’ wages are used to reflect the effectiveness or outcomes of the four capacity categories. Major findings include: Job growth and annual wages in Maine’s technology-intensive industries outpaced the rest of the state’s economy by 1.7 and 2.5 times, respectively; Indicators for Innovation, Financial Capacity revealed the state has yet to develop…

Mainers will vote on Election Day on a research and development bond issue that if passed would allocate $20 million to improve the Maine economy by supporting innovative research and development in the fields of biotechnology, computers and other information technology, aquiculture and marine technology, forestry and agriculture, and advanced materials. If passed, funding from the bond issue would be allocated to the following: The University of Maine System would receive $13.5 million for capital improvements and equipment purchases; The Maine Science and Technology Foundation would receive $4.5 million to enhance research and education capability among public and private educational institutions conducting marine research and nonprofit marine research institutions, and to provide funds for a Research Challenge Grants Program to enhance research and development capacity and productivity; and The Department of Economic and Community Development would receive $2 million to leverage $2 million in matching private contributions to build the Gulf of Maine Aquarium Research…

The State of Maine, the University of Maine, the US Navy, and the Maine Science and Technology Foundation (MSTF) have signed an agreement that initiates a partnership to improve the stewardship of the state's natural resources. The partners will work together under a memorandum of agreement to gather and exchange environmental information using the Navy's remote sensing technology. This technology can be used to monitor erosion, pollution, sea level rise, fishery stocks, and the conditions that would be ripe for algae blooms which kill countless fish and shellfish each year. Remote sensing is a process in which extremely clear pictures are taken from distant equipment, such as a satellite, an airplane, or radar. Scientists match these crystal clear photographs with the information known about landscape and topography to obtain nearly perfect descriptions of the environment. This matching process is called "ground truthing." The partners will create integrated science and technology working groups; determine the data and technology needed for joint projects; identify related…

Maine lawmakers have passed an R&D investment package to increase the state's research and development capacity. The package includes a $20 million bond issue that must be approved by the voters in November. The bond initiative would provide: $13.5 million to the University of Maine System for capital improvements and equipment purchases to support activities in the target areas of biotechnology, advanced technologies for forestry and agriculture, software engineering and development, advanced materials engineering and development, and marine biology; $3 million to the Maine Science and Technology Foundation (MSTF) to invest in a Marine Technology Fund; $1.5 million to MSTF for a Research Challenge Grants program for research institutions in the for-profit, not-for profit or academic sectors; and, $2 million to the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development toward the development and construction of the Gulf of Maine Aquarium Research Facility. "Through a broad coalition of organizations across the state, we were able to obtain bipartisan…

Joel B. Russ was recently named the new president of the Maine Science and Technology Foundation (MSTF). Prior to accepting this position, Russ served as the President and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce of the Greater Portland Region, as well as serving as a member of the MSTF's Board of Directors. MSTF is a state-chartered, non-profit organization whose mission is to stimulate science and technology-driven economic growth in Maine.

The Maine Science and Technology Foundation seeks a high energy President and CEO who will work with a diverse, gubernatorially appointed Board of Directors and provide leadership to the staff in the areas of strategic planning, policy development, program oversight, finance and administration, and public outreach. MSTF is a state chartered, industry-led not-for-profit organization that stimulates science and technology-driven economic growth in the state of Maine. The candidate will have experience and demonstrated achievements in the science and technology field and the ability to communicate the importance of science and technology to economic growth. A strong facilitator, the candidate will have the ability to communicate effectively and clearly with MSTF's stakeholders, including government, educators, the business community, a broad partner base, Board of Directors and staff. The candidate will have experience working with diverse constituents and value collaborative relationships, inside and outside the organization. The President will work with a statewide steering committee of…