MEIFUSM

MaineEconomic ImprovementFund

I n v e s t i n g i n I n n o v a t i o n

The Maine Economic Improvement Fund (MEIF) was established by the Legislature in 1997 to:

• Support investments in targeted research and development, as well as product innovation.

• Provide the basic investment necessary to obtain matching funds and competitive grants from private and federal sources.

• Contribute to the development of private enterprise based upon research and development performed within the University of Maine System.

ABOUT MEIF

WHAT MAKES A GOOD MEIF PROJECT?

• Addresses documented needs of one or more businesses and industries in the target area and / or support ecosystems.

• Includes measureable outcomes, especially related to talent/workforce development that spans the K-to-Workforce continuum.

• Aligns with at least one economic development indicator in the Maine Development Foundation’s 2018 Measures of Growth, or other appropriate economic development impacts.

• Focuses on one or more MEIF Target Areas:

Biotechnology

Aquaculture and Marine Technology

Composite Material Technology

Environmnetal Technology

Advanced Technologies for Forestry and Agriculture

Information Technology

Precision Manufacturing Technology

For more information, please contact Terry Shehata, Ph.D., MEIF Coordinatora.shehata@maine.edu or (207) 228-8239

Administered by the Cutler Institute

MEIF HIGHLIGHTSINFORMATION TECHNOLOGYCi2 LabThe Ci2 Lab (Creative Intelligence + Innovation + Collaboration = Ci2) at USM provides a unique experiential learning environment that encourages students to create, collaborate, and innovate in order to contribute to the community through self-directed research and projects. It is a unique space that houses a sound studio, a business hatchery, a maker space, and new equipment (such as 3D printers) for digital art, game design, and virtual reality development.

COMMUNITY IMPACT: The goal of the Ci2 Lab is to ensure that students who have worked in the lab graduate from USM with the skills that employers are seeking and can positively contribute to economic development in Maine. In addition, the lab is uniquely positioned to serve as an innovative resource for the community.

ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES FOR FORESTRY & AGRICULTURESuds to ShrimpThe Suds to Shrimp Project, run by USM’s Environmental Science and Policy Department, creates a retail and wholesale network focused on polyculture aquaponic systems in Maine. Aquaponics is a system that combines aquaculture (raising fish and other aquatic animals in tanks) with hydroponics (cultivating plants in water) into an indoor ecosystem. This project will develop a grave-to-cradle approach for sustainable food production by using waste beer grains to grow prawns, tilapia, and vegetables in a multi-species aquaponics system. The project is being incorporated into the ESP Research and Analytical Methods class as a first step in broadening the knowledge base in Maine as well as offering an excellent opportunity for students and faculty to conduct experiments with their community partners that move toward creating the first source of larval prawns in Maine.

COMMUNITY IMPACT: The project will demonstrate methods to overcoming economic barriers to the development of Maine’s aquaponic industry and workforce by (1) raising prawns in production with tilapia in aquaculture systems (2) developing a business model that sells an aquaponic service to restaurants, and (3) training future growers to establish and maintain sustainable polyculture aquaponics operations.

QC2 LabThe Quality Control Collaboratory (QC2) Lab at USM’s Department of Chemistry serves as a learning platform for students as well as craft beer brewers. The lab helps brewers test their beer and learn basic quality control protocols while giving students valuable hands-on experience using laboratory instrumentation.

COMMUNITY IMPACT: In just two years the QC2 lab has increased beer quality testing among local brewers, launched a workshop series for craft brewers to start in-house QC programs, and provided research opportunities for 5-7 students each semester. Four recent graduates have found employment in the field (quality control in breweries and analytical testing labs). This work has directly impacted the community by serving over 50 breweries and offering them a support that was not otherwise available.

MEIFUSM

MaineEconomic ImprovementFund

I n v e s t i n g i n I n n o v a t i o n