9629575 Wiersma The Maine Science and Technology Foundation (MSTF) will undertake to: (1) effect positive and permanent changes in methods of supporting research (i.e., facilities, equipment, resource allocation, etc.) and (2) reward faculty for productivity in the University of Maine System within the context of Maine's S&T Plan. The University of Maine (UMaine) will also undertake to effect positive and permanent changes in how the institution supports research competitiveness. These include: increasing available resources from both state allocations and federal funding; redistributing University resources to provide better support for research; focusing resources, either through new investment or reallocation, to strengthen research areas that are critical to the state and consistent with the goals of UMaine; enhancing personnel and facilities; building public and private-sector support for UMaine; and increasing awareness of S&T activities at UMaine through education and outreach. The project also: (1) focuses investments in two S&T areas at UMaine with state-wide importance and economic potential (fiber-reinforced polymer-wood hybrid and aquaculture); (2) strengthens the partnerships between UMaine, MSTF, NSF, the business community, and the legislature; and (4) identifies principal barriers to research competitiveness at multiple levels and outlines a multi-pronged strategy for overcoming them.
