Advanced Communications Mentor Network for Enhancing Research Competitiveness in Maine

缅因州科学技术基金会（MSTF）与缅因州发展基金会和缅因州经济与社区发展部合作，提出了一个试点网络，该网络将为获取和利用先进通信技术提供一对一的导师公司-研究人员集群。这项计划的直接目标是：找出、发展和实施针对用户的解决方案，包括应用先进的通讯工具，以提高研究和科技发展的生产力和竞争力。o评估通过应用先进通讯工具，提高集群伙伴关系中最终用户的研发生产力和竞争力的方法。o促进集群成员之间扩展的行业/教员合作。o评估缅因州波特兰、奥罗诺和普雷斯克岛地区当地先进通信指导能力的有效性和可持续性。o开发和实施一种系统的方法，以最大限度地创造和分享缅因州以及全世界可用的知识。在主办机构和导师的帮助下，每个行业/教师集群将接触到各种先进的通信技术，这些技术支持四个关键任务领域；这些都是基本的任务，但却捕获了缅因州更经常需要发生的事情：(a)邮件和文件传输；(b)信息检索和公告栏的发展；(c)与商业、高等教育和非营利研究组织之间的合作研究和开发伙伴关系相关的电话会议技术使用；(d)远程研究和就业。集群成员将开发研究合作机会，并由他们在深入了解过程后选择适当的先进通信技术作为支持。每个合作试点研究提案将在缅因州EPSCoR卓越研究伙伴关系指导委员会的指导下进行同行评审。将在竞争的基础上提供资金，以便进行规划工作，最终向适当的联邦机构提出一项全面的建议。这项工作的一个组成部分将特别鼓励提交给小企业创新研究（SBIR）和小企业技术转让（STTR）计划。高级项目总监

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