Forest Bioproducts Advanced Manufacturing Tech Hub
Lead Agency: University of Maine
State Served: Maine
Applicant-Defined Region: Portland-S.Portland; Bangor; Lewiston-Auburn; and Augusta-Waterville MSAs
Core Technology Area: Wood biomass polymers
Contact: Renee Kelly ([email protected])
Media Contact: Ashley Forbes ([email protected])
Organizational Link: https://mainetechhub.us/
The Forest Bioproducts Advanced Manufacturing Tech Hub, led by the University of Maine, aims to become a global leader in forest-based biomaterial production and manufacturing by coordinating public and private infrastructure, accelerating innovation, leveraging investments, and scaling the Maine workforce. The Forest Bioproducts Advanced Manufacturing Tech Hub seeks to accelerate the development and deployment of high-value forest bioproducts which can lock in a domestic supply chain of critical products and materials – including alternative aviation fuel, next-generation construction components, and advanced packaging – while unleashing American ingenuity and stewarding America’s forests.
The Forest Bioproducts Advanced Manufacturing Tech Hub seeks to become the region of choice for firms developing, manufacturing, and selling innovative products derived from forests by bringing together the state government, higher education institutions, industry partners, economic development organizations, and labor and workforce training organizations.
EDA intends to award this Tech Hub grant funding of approximately $XX million to:
- Accelerate forest-based innovations from prototype to commercial production by providing technical expertise, pilot-scale infrastructure, and advanced manufacturing capacity that individual firms (especially startups) cannot afford independently;
- Offer competitive grant funding and concierge match-making / entrepreneurship services to companies designing and manufacturing forest bioproducts to enable scaled production and increase these firms’ access to capital and expanded markets; and
Build a statewide industry partnership that expands apprenticeship pathways in forest bioproducts manufacturing and strengthens the career supports that connect jobseekers to these opportunities.
Additional Designations Earned in Region
