PORTLAND, Maine — The University of New England plans to sponsor an effort still underway to create a marine-related business incubator at the Maine State Pier, where developers are pursuing a partnership with the city.
UNE announced Friday that it had signed a letter of intent to sponsor the New England Ocean Cluster House, which would be a research and development facility for early-stage marine businesses.
Patrick Arnold, who owns the maritime shipping logistics company Soli DG, has said the project would seek alternative uses for waste or byproducts from the existing seafood harvesting or related activities in Maine.
Thor Sigfusson, who founded the Iceland Ocean Cluster House in that country’s capital of Reykjavik, is a partner in the Portland project and has spoken in other countries about that business model as well.
UNE said its initial agreement to sponsor the project comes as it has changed its Marine Science Center programs, complementing its major in marine entrepreneurship and a partnership with Southern Maine Community College that allows students to finish a bachelor’s degree at UNE after two years at the community college.
“SMCC students can do an applied project in the New England Ocean Cluster House in their first two years and continue it at UNE,” Barry Costa-Pierce, who leads UNE’s Department of Marine Sciences and its Marine Science Center, said in a news release. “I’m convinced these new internship opportunities that will open up to these students with the creation of the New England Ocean Cluster House on the Portland waterfront will launch many new, high-paying marine careers.”