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W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 21 J U N E 3 0 , 2 0 2 5 F O C U S H I G H E R E D U C AT I O N / P RO F E S S I O N A L D E V E L O P M E N T In April, Maine had joined 21 other states in a lawsuit against the Trump administration's attempt to cut NIH funding. e suit was filed in U.S. District Court for Massachusetts and is pending. UMaine Composites Lab funding cuts lead to layoffs e University of Maine Advanced Structures and Composites Center on the Orono campus has laid off nine employees so far, in the wake of federal funding cuts handed down in June. e layoffs included engineers, scientists and technicians. In a notice to employees, the center's leaders wrote that unanticipated pauses and delays in funding have required projects to be slowed or rescoped, necessitating the staffing reductions. "Our leading work in composite mate- rials, advanced manufacturing, the GEM [Green Engineering and Materials] Factory of the Future, national defense, boatbuilding, transportation, housing and energy addresses pressing technical and societal needs," the statement read. "Looking ahead, we will continue to seek new research opportunities that build on these tremendous strengths and further diversify our funding portfolio." Warren said more than 85% of ASCC's funding comes from grants and contracts with the federal government, but funding diversification is now a pri- ority. e floating wind turbine project is one example where the university is casting a wider funding net. e U.S. Department of Energy in April suspended three awards to ASCC, totaling $15.8 million, with $3.3 million remaining to be paid out for the floating wind turbine project. at suspension notice came just hours after the 375-ton concrete floating hull had been towed to Searsport, in prep- aration for installation in Penobscot Bay off of Castine. Warren said the project will con- tinue, in a reduced capacity. "With the remaining $3.3 million in previ- ously pledged federal funds currently unavailable, UMaine has reduced the scope of the research and is moving the project forward using existing resources, including industry partner- ship revenue and state funds." e floating platform was installed off the coast of Castine on May 15 as planned, and Warren said it will remain there for 18 months to collect real-time data. "Without the expected funding," she emphasized, "researchers will be limited in their ability to analyze the findings and develop a commercializa- tion plan for this revolutionary technol- ogy, which has industrial applications well beyond ocean energy." Collins said in a statement at the time, "e new administration clearly has different energy priorities than the previous administration, and this will have a direct impact on research funding sources. "at will mean that if the state gov- ernment wants to continue some of this work, it will have to provide more of the funding than it has in the past." MAINE'S PREMIER BUSINESS SCHOOL We believe in an education that is robust in perspective, rigorous in practice, and relevant to the needs of our ever- changing business world. Bachelors • Masters • Certificates The University of Maine System is an equal opportunity institution committed to nondiscrimination. umaine.edu/business Consigli Construction Co., Inc. Construction Managers & General Contractors | consigli.com Building Maine's Most Complex Projects LEARN MORE University of Maine School of Law 300 Fore Street - Maine Law P H O T O / C O U R T E S Y T H E U N I V E R S I T Y O F M A I N E Staffing at the University of Maine composites lab in Orono has been cut. Maine research institutions have struggled this year to get clarity on federal funding cuts for a range of R&D programs. Funding was allocated, partially received, then terminated, often with no explanation, then later restored, though not always to the full amount. C O N T I N U E D O N F O L L OW I N G PA G E »

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