BioConnects New England and the Bioscience Association of Maine Announce Partnership

BioConnects New England (BCNE) and the Bioscience Association of Maine (BioME) are excited to announce a partnership to create a robust biomanufacturing industry cluster in the New England region.

With this partnership, BioConnects New England and BioME aim to promote the growth and sustainability of the life sciences industry in New England through academic excellence and strategic programming.  Additionally, BioConnects New England and BioME agree to foster research and development collaboration on a range of projects.  BioMe is also committed to attending the annual coalition meeting, hosting partners, and assisting with outreach to local communities.

“BioMe will be a great partner for BioConnects New England,” said Jared Auclair, Ph.D., an associate dean at Northeastern University and director of their Biopharmaceutical Analysis Training Lab and co-lead of BioConnects New England.  “The BioConnects New England coalition aims to serve as a platform to highlight BioME’s contributions to the life sciences community in Maine and beyond.  We look forward to working with them together on expanding a strong and vibrant biotech industry throughout New England.”

“We are excited to announce this partnership between the Bioscience Association of Maine and BioConnects New England,” said Agnieszka Carpenter, executive director of BioME.  “These efforts align closely with our own mission, and we are proud to collaborate on ways to advance economic growth for Maine citizens and to expand the workforce of the biotech industry as a whole.”

Through its grant challenge sponsored by the Economic Development Administration, BioConnects New England is leveraging its resources in the region to create a robust biomanufacturing industry. Massachusetts-based Northeastern University leads the coalition, which includes The Biopharmaceutical Analysis Training Laboratory at Northeastern University, The Roux Institute at Northeastern University in Portland, Maine, Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, Gloucester Marine Genomics Institute, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, -the I-195 Design & Innovation District in Providence, Rhode Island, the University of Rhode Island, and FocusMaine in Portland. The coalition will lead K-12 education and engagement activities, jumpstart prototyping and incubation facilities throughout the region, and invest in accessible start-up entrepreneurship programming.

ABOUT BIOCONNECTS NEW ENGLAND

BioConnects New England is a multi-state coalition and finalist of the Build Back Better Regional Challenge—a $1 billion program sponsored by the Economic Development Administration. Through this initiative, BioConnects New England will create a biomanufacturing cluster in the region of Massachusetts, Maine, and Rhode Island that have been historically excluded from the biotechnology industry, one of the fastest-growing sectors in New England with national importance. This coalition will connect hubs throughout New England to support existing—and establish new—biomanufacturing infrastructure as a pathway to increase employment and educational opportunities for underserved regions and populations.

ABOUT BIOSCIENCE ASSOCIATION OF MAINE (BioME)

The Bioscience Association of Maine (BioME0 is a trade organization which promotes the industry’s steady growth, interprets its benefits to the public, and influences pertinent public policy.  BioME aims to advance economic growth and opportunities within the life sciences community of Maine by allocating equal involvement in life sciences advocacy, education, economic development, workforce development, and attracting out-of-state business.