Maine Office of Innovation

| | | EPSCoR Federal Programs

Department of Energy: DOE EPSCoR program

DOE's Office of Science is part of the bipartisan competitiveness/innovation initiative and its funding is expected to double over the next few years. The National Academies' study, "Rising Above the Gathering Storm", was highly supportive of this increase in DOE Office of Science funding.
DOE provides more than 40% of all federal funding for the physical sciences. It also makes substantial contributions to research in computer science, biological and environmental science and energy areas, including biofuels, magnetic fusion, hydrogen fuel cells and clean coal technologies.

Department of Defense: DEPSCoR program

US security and battleground superiority increasingly depend upon strong science and technology. From defenses against IED's to the electronic battlefield, to advanced communications systems, our nation's safety depends upon advances made possible through research on materials, lasers, fiber optics, precision guidance systems, sensor development, etc.
DOD research accounts for more than one-third of all funding for engineering research and provides 70% of all federal funding for mechanical engineering, 60% for electrical engineering, 42% for materials engineering, 29% for computer sciences and 28 percent for oceans sciences. It also provides funding for research on infectious diseases and injuries associated with battlefield conditions.
DEPSCoR supports research in areas identified by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR), Army Research Office (ARO) and Office of Naval Research (ONR).

National Institute of Health's Institutional Development Award: NIH IDeA

This important program increases our nation's biomedical research capability by improving research in states that have historically been less successful in obtaining biomedical research funds. IDeA funds only merit-based, peer-reviewed research that meets NIH research objectives in the 24 IDeA states.
NIH IDeA is comprised of two initiatives: Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) and IDEA Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE). COBRE and INBRE programs are flagship examples of successful programs supported by IDeA.
The COBRE program is designed to increase the pool of well-trained investigators in the IDeA states by expanding research facilities, equipping laboratories with the latest research equipment, providing mentoring for promising candidates, and developing research faculty through support of a multi-disciplinary center, led by an established, senior investigator with expertise in the research focus area of the center.
INBRE increases the pipeline of outstanding students and enhances the quality of science faculty in the IDeA states by networking research intensive and undergraduate institutions. The INBRE program prepares students for graduate and professional schools as well as careers in the biomedical sciences, supports research and mentoring of young investigators, and enhances research infrastructure at participating institutions.

National Science Foundation: NSF EPSCoR

The NSC EPSCoR goals are: a) to provide strategic programs and opportunities for EPSCoR participants that stimulate sustainable improvements in their R&D capacity and competitiveness; and b) to advance science and engineering capabilities in EPSCoR jurisdictions for discovery, innovation and overall knowledge-based prosperity.

OBJECTIVES
To catalyze key research themes and related activities within and among EPSCoR jurisdictions that empower knowledge generation, dissemination and application;
to activate effective jurisdictional and regional collaborations among academic, government and private sector stakeholders that advance scientific research, promote innovation and provide multiple societal benefits;
to broaden participation in science and engineering by institutions, organizations and people within and among EPSCoR jurisdictions;
to use EPSCoR for development, implementation and evaluation of future programmatic experiments that motivate positive change and progression.