Section 949 - Maine Innovation Economy Advisory Board1.Establishment. The Maine Innovation Economy Advisory Board, referred to in this chapter as "the advisory board" and established by Title 5, section 12004-I, subsection 6-G, is established to coordinate the State's research and development activities and to foster collaboration among its higher education and nonprofit research institutions and members of the business community. [2007, c. 420, §7(NEW).]
2.Appointment and composition. The advisory board consists of the following members: A. Two ex officio members: (1) The Director of the Maine Technology Institute, as established in Title 5, section 12004-G, subsection 33-D, or the director's designee; and(2) The Director of the Office of Innovation, as established in Title 5, section 13105, or the director's designee; and [2007, c. 420, §7(NEW).]B. Thirty members appointed by the Governor: (1) Seven representatives from the for-profit business community within the 7 targeted technologies as defined in Title 5, section 15301;(2) Seven representatives involved with nonprofit research institutions within the 7 targeted technologies as defined in Title 5, section 15301;(3) Four representatives from bioscience research laboratories;(4) Two representatives from nonprofit research laboratories with main offices or headquarters in this State and demonstrated expertise and credentials in marine research;(5) One representative of the University of Maine and one representative of the University of Southern Maine;(6) Four representatives of private universities and colleges within the State;(7) One representative of the University of Maine Center for Law and Innovation;(8) One representative of the Small Enterprise Growth Program as established in section 381; and(9) Two representatives with demonstrated expertise in venture capital. [2021, c. 36, §12(AMD).] [2021, c. 36, §12(AMD).]
3.Terms; vacancies; limits. The term of office for members of the advisory board is 3 years. When a vacancy occurs, it must be filled by the same appointing authority, and the new member shall serve for the remainder of the term. Members who serve on the advisory board by virtue of their offices serve terms coincident with their terms in office. Members may continue to serve until their replacements are designated. A vacancy in a position held by an ex officio member that occurs other than by the expiration of a term must be filled by a designee appointed by the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development for the unexpired term. A vacancy may not impair the right of the remaining members to exercise all of the powers of the advisory board. [2007, c. 420, §7(NEW).]
4.Chair; election of officers. The members of the advisory board shall annually elect one of the advisory board's members as chair and one of its members as vice-chair to set the agenda and schedule meetings. The advisory board may elect other officers and designate their duties. [2007, c. 420, §7(NEW).]
5.Voting rights. Each member of the advisory board has a vote. [2007, c. 420, §7(NEW).]
6.Meetings. The advisory board shall hold quarterly meetings each year. Additional meetings may be held as necessary to conduct the business of the advisory board. [2007, c. 420, §7(NEW).]
7.Compensation. Members of the advisory board are not entitled to compensation. [2007, c. 420, §7(NEW).]
8.Adoption of bylaws. The advisory board shall adopt bylaws consistent with this section for the governance of its affairs and to address the resolution of conflicts of interest that may arise. [2007, c. 420, §7(NEW).]
9.Quorum. A majority of the members of the advisory board constitutes a quorum. [2007, c. 420, §7(NEW).]
10.Staff support. The Department of Economic and Community Development, Office of Innovation shall provide staff support to the advisory board to carry out the purposes of this section. [2007, c. 420, §7(NEW).]
11.Powers and duties. The powers and duties of the advisory board are as set out in this subsection. A. Every 5 years starting in 2010, the advisory board shall develop an innovation economy action plan for the application of science and technology to improve the State's position in the global economy. The plan must identify specific steps that public and private research institutions must implement to improve the State's science and technology infrastructure, goals for encouraging collaborative initiatives among public and private research institutions, steps that can be implemented immediately without new state funding and resources and steps that will require new state appropriations or major reallocation of state appropriations and resources. The plan must include numerical objectives, costs and an evaluation protocol, as well as a provision for assigning and ensuring accountability for those who receive state research and development funds. [2007, c. 420, §7(NEW).]B. The advisory board shall assist state and federal policy makers in advancing research and development capacity initiatives in the State and in developing corresponding funding strategies; provide input on economic planning and the commercial application of the State's research and development efforts; facilitate research opportunities that create sustained, interinstitutional, collaborative, multidisciplinary, centers-based research projects; advocate for the State's research and development sector and interests; disseminate information about its work throughout the State; and serve as the EPSCoR steering committee, as referred to in Title 5, section 13110, for the State and evaluate proposals made to the Maine EPSCoR Program and related programs. [2007, c. 420, §7(NEW).] [2007, c. 420, §7(NEW).]
12.Report. The advisory board shall submit a report on the innovation economy action plan developed under subsection 11 to the Maine Economic Growth Council by the first Wednesday in March every 5 years, beginning in 2010. The advisory board shall submit a progress report on the innovation economy action plan to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over business, research and economic development matters and to the Governor by the first Wednesday in March of each year, beginning in 2008. [2007, c. 420, §7(NEW).]
Amended by 2021, c. 36,§ 12, eff. 6/29/2021.2007, c. 420, § 7 (NEW) .