Abstract 568 Thibeault Advanced Communications Mentor Network for Enhancing Research The Maine Science and Technology Foundation (MSTF), in collaboration with the Maine Development Foundation and the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development, proposes a pilot network that will provide one-on-one mentor firm-researcher clusters for access and utilization of advanced communication technologies. The immediate goals of this project are: o Identify, develop, and implement user-specific solutions involving the application of advanced communication tools to increase research and technology development productivity and competitiveness. o Evaluate approaches by which the research and development productivity and competitiveness of end-users in a cluster partnership are enhanced through applications of advanced communications tools. o Foster extended industry/faculty collaborations among cluster members. o Evaluate the efficacy and sustainability of local mentoring capabilities for advanced communications in the Portland, Orono, and Presque Isle regions in Maine. o Develop and implement a systematic approach to maximizing the creation and sharing of knowledge available with Maine, as well as throughout the world. With assistance from the host institution and mentors, each industry/faculty cluster will be exposed to a variety of advanced communications technologies which support four key task areas; they are basic tasks, but capture what needs to occur more often in Maine: (a) mail and file transfer; (b) informational retrieval and bulletin board development; (c) teleconferencing technology use related to collaborative research and development partnerships among business, higher education, and not-for-profit research organizations; and (d) distance-based research and employment. Cluster members would develop research collaboration opportunities to be supported by appropriate advanced communication technologies they would select after a n intensive awareness process. Each collaborative pilot research proposal would be peer reviewed under the direction of the Research Excellence Partnership, Maine EPSCoR's Steering Committee. Funds would be made available, on a competitive basis, to go through a planning effort with the end point of developing a comprehensive proposal to an appropriate federal agency. A component of the effort would specifically encourage submission to the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. Senior Program Director
