1.__Centers for innovation.__A center for innovation, referred to in this chapter as "center," represents a specific industry sector identified as offering significant potential for economic growth, employment and business development for the State.__A center shall consult with state development agencies to carry out the purposes of this chapter.__The centers established include:

A.__The Center for Innovation in Biotechnology, which promotes the development of the biotechnology sector; and

B.__The Aquaculture Innovations Center, which promotes the development of the aquaculture sector.

Other centers may be established with the approval of the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development.__A center must be organized under Title 13-B as a nonprofit corporation.

2.__Purposes.__A center has the following purposes:

A.__To bring together a cluster of related experience, business activity and technology in order to promote economic growth and target assistance from government development agencies and resources;

B.__To advise the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development, the Maine International Trade Center, the Maine Technology Institute and other state agencies of the needs of a targeted industry;

C.__To serve as a facilitator of state, local and federal efforts directed at developing an industry sector;

D.__To assist in the recruitment of businesses and personnel within an industry sector seeking to relocate to the State; and

E.__To educate and inform the emerging technologies that are the basis of an industry sector.

SUMMARY

This bill eliminates reference to the Centers for Innovation

from the charter of the Maine Science and Technology Foundation, updates the charter to include duties involving the Maine Technology Institute and the Maine Technology Capacity Fund and revises the Centers for Innovation Program and establishes the program in its own chapter in the Maine Revised Statutes.