Planning: Maine EPSCoR RII Track-1 Planning Grant

University Of Maine, Orono ME

Investigators

Abstract

Over a one-year period, this planning grant will focus on addressing five objectives to mature a selected project concept and research team, using a collaborative, inclusive approach. The planning grant objectives are: (1) network assessment and mobilization, focusing on the human and organizational network in Maine; (2) strategic planning and gap analysis; (3) economic assessment, including workforce and commercialization analyses; (4) workforce development planning, including the determination of baseline demographics within Maine; and, (5) development of key strategic documents and events, including an implementation plan for the future five-year project and a detailed project logic model. Key activities to achieve these objectives will occur on a 12-month timeline that features three major statewide events focused sequentially on listening, strategic planning, and synthesis. This planning project from the University of Maine has the potential to develop the intrastate teamwork needed for a future EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Improvement Track-1 proposal on the topic of “Future Opportunities for Decarbonization with Climate-Smart Renewable Resources in Maine’s Emerging Green Economy (Maine-FORRE).” This topic is properly aligned with Maine’s state Science & Technology plan, which identifies “Maine’s forests and their associated products as a unique opportunity for the state, given interests in decarbonization, renewable materials, and natural climate solutions upon which Maine-FORRE will capitalize and expand.” Maine-FORRE plans to strategically unify several existing University of Maine research centers (i.e., Advanced Structures and Composites Center, Center for Research on Sustainable Forests, Center for Research in STEM Education, Forest Bioproducts Research Institute, Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center, Process Development Center, and Senator George J. Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions). The planning proposal will foster linkages among the existing centers, and allow additional linkages to other partners, both internal and external to Maine, particularly Federal national laboratories. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.