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Economic And Technological Innovation In Maine Before The Twentieth Century: Complex, Uneven, But Pervasive And Important, Howard P. Segal Jan 2014

Economic And Technological Innovation In Maine Before The Twentieth Century: Complex, Uneven, But Pervasive And Important, Howard P. Segal

Maine Policy Review

Maine had a long history of economic and technological innovation which began long before it became a state in 1820. Over the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, woolen mills, shoe factories, paper mills, hydroelectric power and utilities, and other components of mainstream America’s industrial and commercial revolutions became key parts of most Mainers’ daily lives. This article argues that the blue highway signs one passes on entering Maine—Maine: The Way Life Should Be—conceal much of Maine’s actual past and present, especially its rich and complex history of innovation.


Interview With Doug Hall On The Role Of Training In Innovation, Margo Lukens, Doug Hall Jan 2014

Interview With Doug Hall On The Role Of Training In Innovation, Margo Lukens, Doug Hall

Maine Policy Review

In this interview, Doug Hall gives his current thinking on the teaching of innovation and the urgency for doing so. Hall has been working in the field of innovation for most of his career. He has served as partner and mentor in the University of Maine’s program which offers an Innovation Engineering minor open to undergraduate students in any major and a certificate for graduate students. Hall says that “the world of the guru is done” and that “companies, colleges, and countries need to empower their people to lead the transformation from the inside out.”


Maine’S Innovation Prospects: What The Research Can Tell Us, Linda Silka Jan 2014

Maine’S Innovation Prospects: What The Research Can Tell Us, Linda Silka

Maine Policy Review

The innovation literature suggests Maine faces a number of challenges. This overview article discusses this literature, noting how recent findings about boundary spanning point to the importance of both individual skills and group collaboration in innovation. It highlights the implications for policies that could jumpstart innovation, noting the importance of looking to history, looking across topics, looking across disciplines, looking to other states, and looking to other countries to avoid becoming too short-sighted and parochial in approaches.


Natural Advantages Are Key To Achieving A Vibrant Innovation Ecosystem In Maine, David J. Kappos Jan 2014

Natural Advantages Are Key To Achieving A Vibrant Innovation Ecosystem In Maine, David J. Kappos

Maine Policy Review

No abstract provided.


An Emerging Model Of Innovation For Maine, Renee Kelly Jan 2014

An Emerging Model Of Innovation For Maine, Renee Kelly

Maine Policy Review

The state of Maine began making significant investments in research and development in the late 1990s, aligning those investments with industry sectors that drew upon the state’s traditional strengths as well as emerging industries such as biotechnology. This strategy was largely built upon the cluster theory of economic development, which can be challenging to implement in rural areas, in part because of their less dense social networks. This paper suggests that developing more efficient social networks will build stronger clusters and make rural areas more successful in innovation, and presents the Blackstone Accelerates Growth initiative as an emerging model for …


Transforming Maine’S Economy: Innovation And Entrepreneurship Policy, Catherine Searle Renault Jan 2014

Transforming Maine’S Economy: Innovation And Entrepreneurship Policy, Catherine Searle Renault

Maine Policy Review

Innovation and entrepreneurship are major drivers of economic growth. Support for them is a primary role of state government in order to increase the well being of its citizens through the provision of well-paying jobs that cannot be easily exported. Today, the state’s role is described as “enhancing the innovation ecosystem,” with the goal of increased productivity, innovation and competitiveness. Policies to build the ecosystem include: (1) building and supporting a state’s research and development capacity; (2) encouraging a state’s entrepreneurial community, (3) increasing the productivity of a state’s economy though the commercialization of new products, services, processes, business models …


R&D: Cornerstone Of The Knowledge Economy, Evan Richert Jan 2014

R&D: Cornerstone Of The Knowledge Economy, Evan Richert

Maine Policy Review

Maine has made progress toward achieving the goals set out 13 years ago in the State Planning Office’s publication “30 and 1000.” That publication projected that if 30 percent of the state’s adults had at least four-year degrees and if businesses, academia, and government were spending $1,000 per employed worker on research and development, Maine’s per capita income would reach the national average. The state still has a ways to go. Today it is estimated that the R&D threshold is about $1,600 per employed worker. Business will need to nearly double its effort to reach its share of the goal. …


Research, Innovation, And Commercialization At The University Of Maine, James S. (Jake) Ward Iv Jan 2014

Research, Innovation, And Commercialization At The University Of Maine, James S. (Jake) Ward Iv

Maine Policy Review

This paper presents the University of Maine’s accomplishments through its use of state R&D funds.


State Investment In University Research And Commercialization: What Is Measurable And What Is Meaningful?, Kris Burton Jan 2014

State Investment In University Research And Commercialization: What Is Measurable And What Is Meaningful?, Kris Burton

Maine Policy Review

There are serious challenges in measuring the impact of universities on their state economies and in measuring the return on investment in universities by state legislatures. This article discusses the metrics currently used in looking at societal investment in research and the commercialization of research results. It asks if more meaningful metrics are needed, and if so, are they possible to obtain?


Do We Have The Workforce Skills For Maine’S Innovation Economy?, John Dorrer Jan 2014

Do We Have The Workforce Skills For Maine’S Innovation Economy?, John Dorrer

Maine Policy Review

A convergence of economic and demographic forces is shaping a set of formidable challenges for Maine. This article describes how a workforce with superior skills is the key to economic growth and innovation. Over the last five decades, skill requirements have changed dramatically for most workers with the shift from goods-producing to service industries. While much has been done in reforming K-12, post secondary, and adult education systems to accommodate the changing Maine economy, it is not enough More innovation and adaptation will be required from policymakers, institutional leaders, employers and Maine people themselves.


Innovation Engineering, Brianna Hughes, Kathryn Smith Jan 2014

Innovation Engineering, Brianna Hughes, Kathryn Smith

Maine Policy Review

A graduate and an undergraduate student reflect on their experiences in the University of Maine’s Innovation Engineering program.


Finding Untapped Opportunities In Forests, Linda Silka Jan 2014

Finding Untapped Opportunities In Forests, Linda Silka

Maine Policy Review

Opportunities for innovation in forests in Maine and elsewhere are discussed, including forest bioproducts research at the University of Maine.


Farming’S Future Depends On Continued Innovation, John Piotti Jan 2014

Farming’S Future Depends On Continued Innovation, John Piotti

Maine Policy Review

Farming is on the upswing in Maine, with many innovative practices and institutions described in this article.