The keys to Maine’s economic future lie in knowledge and ideas, where wealth and job creation derive from innovation and technology embedded in all sections of the economy, including our natural resources-based industries of forestry, marine and agriculture.
In 2005, the legislature called for an innovation economy action plan for science and technology to be written every five years. The plan to move Maine’s economy forward must identify specific steps and quantitative objectives to encourage collaboration between public and private research facilities.
During the next six months, the Maine Innovation Economy Advisory Board, working with the Office of Innovation, will lead the process to craft the 2010 Science and Technology Action Plan. This plan needs to reflect the inputs of a wide variety of stakeholders from business, the research community and related service providers. Through this process, we hope to accomplish a number of objectives:
The Science and Technology Action Plan is a living document that focuses the State of Maine's investments as outlined in the biennial budgets and bond packages, governs the priorities for investments within programs managed by the University and Maine Technology Institute, and provides guidance for organizational and operational strategies.
We are seeking as much input as possible to ensure that the plan reflects the interests and concerns of the science and technology community broadly defined.
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.
