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Composites and Advanced Materials
With a long tradition of boatbuilding, it is not surprising that Maine has taken a lead in the technologies related to building boats and other structures by combining different materials to make a product that is superior from single components or methods. Starting with advanced research into fiber-reinforce polymers, Maine is leading the way in the use of composites in construction, security applications and renewable energy devices.
This is one of Maine's best defined clusters, with active trade associations, a number of spin-offs from the University of Maine, as well as revitalized traditional manufacturers. The $15 million Northstar Alliance project funded by the US Department of Labor under the Workforce Innovation and Regional Development program was critical to addressing perceived workforce shortages, as was the original National Science Foundation EPSCoR grant to the AEWC in the mid-1990s.
