Home | About Us | Advisory Council | Evaluation

The Office of Innovation was established in 2004 by the Maine Legislature (5MRSA §13105) to "encourage and coordinate the State's research and development activities to foster collaboration among the State's higher education and nonprofit research institutes and the business community."

The office provides strategic direction, promotion, measurement and evaluation of innovation-related public investments in Maine. The Office of Innovation:

• Manages the Maine Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) (5 MSRA §13110) with the University of Maine and the Maine Innovation Economy Advisory Board (MIEAB) that also serves as the EPSCoR Coordinating Committee to strengthen Maine's research infrastructure through access to federal funds; Click here for MIEAB description.
• Develops and leads the implementation of the science and technology plan and annual updates (5 MSRA §13106) in coordination with the Maine Innovation Economy Advisory Board; Click here for more information.
• Oversees the Maine Technology Institute (MTI) (5 MSRA §15302) and the related Research and Development Bond Funds which MTI administers;
• Manages the Technology Centers (5 MSRA §15321), the state's technology incubator system;
• Evaluates Maine's public investments in research and development through the annual Innovation Index (5 MSRA §15106) and Comprehensive Research and Development Evaluation (5 MSRA §15107). Click here for more information.

In addition, funds managed by Office of Innovation:

Maine Technology Institute:
$5.5 million annual base budget (FY08-09)
$2.5 million Cluster (FY08-09)
Bond Administration funding $1.5 million (over two years)

Fund
$50 million 2007 R&D Bond (if approved by voters in November 2007)
$42.5 million Biomedical Research Fund (Appropriations and R&D Bonds)
$6 million Marine Research Fund (Appropriations and R&D Bonds 2001, 2003 and 2005)

Technology Centers
$187,250 annually in FY08-09

Staff:

Catherine S. Renault, Ph.D., Director of the Office of Innovation, serves as the Governor's Science Advisor, advising the Governor, legislature and others on science and technology policy and innovation investments. As a designee of the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development, Dr. Renault serves on the Board of the Maine Technology Institute and the Small Enterprise Growth Fund. Contact Dr. Renault at 207-624-9801 or by email Catherine.s.renault@maine.gov.

Jennifer DeChant, MBA, Policy/Program Coordinator, is responsible for managing the Office's legislative program, managing the Office's contracts for R&D programs and activities and providing advice and research on initiatives and reports of the Office. Contact Jennifer at 207-624-9803 or by email Jennifer.Dechant@maine.gov.

Linda Shaw, Administrative Assistant, is responsible for scheduling and project support. Contact Linda at (207) 624-9825 or by email Linda.S.Shaw@maine.gov