Last month, I used this blog space to solicit volunteers to help shape Maine’s innovation economy. Here is a link to that blog in case you missed it. Building upon Maine’s 10-year Economic Development Strategy – – A Focus on Talent and Innovation and the recently released recommendations of the Economic Recovery Committee (ERC), there is a need to reinvigorate the Maine Innovation Economy Advisory Board (MIEAB) with a diverse mix of entrepreneurs and members.
While the response to my previous call for volunteers has been remarkable – – nearly 60 individuals reached out to me to express interest – – we are still looking for a few more talented Mainers to round out the list of candidates. In particular, if you have a background or experience in farming, biotechnology, environmental technology, composites & advanced materials, precision manufacturing, or finance/venture capital, your help is needed. Whether it’s three years of experience or thirty; whether you are 25 or 85; whether you are from Fort Kent, Eastport, Kittery or Fryeburg, or any point in between; whether you just arrived in Maine or have been here all your life; whether you just launched a startup or work for an established company or research lab; we want to hear from you.
MIEAB has 32 members and includes representatives from the private sector, non-profit research institutions, UMaine and the University of Southern Maine, our private colleges and universities, biomedical and marine research labs, and individuals with finance and venture capital experience. MIEAB is responsible for developing the state’s five-year innovation action plan, as well as monitoring and reporting annually on the state’s progress against the goals and tactics in the plan. It also serves as the State’s EPSCoR Steering Committee and generally provides advisory to policy makers on all things related to our innovation economy.
All appointments to MIEAB are made by the Governor and MTI has committed to assembling a list of at least three prospective candidates for each of the open positions. We are collecting resumes and brief biographies and will be delivering them to the Governor’s staff within the next two weeks. So, if you have a passion for innovation, and want to get involved in shaping Maine’s economy, now is the time to throw your hat in the ring. Please shoot me an email at [email protected] if you would like to be considered.
And, thank you to all those who have volunteered thus far. It has been really gratifying to hear from you. Again, MTI plans to complete the candidate search in the next two weeks and then we will keep you all apprised of next steps.
Best,
Brian