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W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 17 A U G U S T 2 2 , 2 0 1 6 G R E AT E R B A N G O R F O C U S products industry played a role in the company's decision to move its R&D operations to Orono. "We have had a great relationship with the University of Maine, in particular the pulp and paper engineering group and its resources," he says. " e network of people within the university and the part- nerships created by our association will help in devel- oping cutting-edge technology, but more importantly in working to commercialize those technologies." Maine has seen fi ve paper mills close in the past fi ve years. As one of only six paper mills remain- ing in the state, Twin Rivers' eff orts to improve the competitiveness of its Madawaska facility is of no small consequence. e mill employs 500 workers and has an annual economic impact of $344 million in combined operations and average annual capital expenditures in Madawaska, with its payroll and benefi ts costs comprising roughly 21% of the total. R&D for the forest products industry In July, the Bangor Target Area Development Corp. received a $345,000 grant from the federal Economic Development Administration to create a wet labora- tory at its Target Technology Center, at 20 Godfrey Drive in Orono, a short drive from the campus. e wet lab and related space will be used by both Twin Rivers and Cerahelix Corp., an early stage company making ceramic fi lters for various industries. UMaine's role in helping the state diversify and strengthen its forest products industries highlights the value of its research capabilities. "Overall, the work being done here at the University of Maine is emblematic of how a great university, together with eff ective and sustained regional collabora- tion can spur innovation, improve our country's global competitiveness, spur new and better jobs and drive economic resilience," U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Matt Erskine said at a July 29 press conference at the Orono campus. In the entry way of the Process Development Center at UMaine's Forest Bioproducts Research Institute, there's a large poster showing every stage of the papermaking process. Each step of the papermak- ing process highlighted in the poster can be repli- cated inside the center, which has a pilot papermak- ing machine capable of manufacturing and testing virtually any kind of paper imaginable. e center operates as an open-access research facility where scientists, entrepreneurs and industry leaders develop new products and manufacturing processes. C O N T I N U E D O N F O L L OW I N G PA G E » The network of people within the The network of people within the The network of people within the The network of people within the The network of people within the The network of people within the The network of people within the The network of people within the The network of people within the The network of people within the The network of people within the The network of people within the The network of people within the The network of people within the university and the partnerships university and the partnerships university and the partnerships university and the partnerships university and the partnerships university and the partnerships university and the partnerships university and the partnerships university and the partnerships university and the partnerships university and the partnerships university and the partnerships university and the partnerships created by our association will help in developing cutting-edge technology, but, more importantly, in working to commercialize those technologies. — Dave Deger, Twin Rivers Paper Co.