Maine International Trade Center

MITC Members - Join us for our Lunch & Learn event, sponsored by Maine Manufacturing Extension Partnership, on Nov. 6th in Brunswick. With time for networking before and after, you’ll hear from program speakers Caitlin Grant from York County Community College, Adrian Horn from COMPOTECH, INC., and Mark Winter from Maine Defense Industry Alliance (MDIA). There is no cost to attend, but space is limited. Register today! https://lnkd.in/gV_5fPKT

Today Hannah Webb represented MITC on an industry panel at the New England and Atlantic Canada OSW Forum hosted by the Oceantic Network. The discussion focused on the potential for collaboration across supply chain, workforce, and ports between the two markets for advancing offshore wind and sharing learnings to better benefit local business and communities on both sides of the border. Given Maine's strong trade relationship with Canada, we recognize the opportunity to work together in yet another industry to achieve our climate goals for the region.?

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT:?Long-time MITC member Puritan Medical Products is known worldwide as the most trusted manufacturer of healthcare, diagnostic, and critical environment products since 1919. Recognized as MITC’s 2022 Innovator of the Year, the company offers an ever-expanding line of medical products that takes advantage of the most up-to-date materials and manufacturing processes to deliver innovative solutions for even the most demanding applications. https://lnkd.in/dCUMFTy We work with MITC members located in all 16 Maine counties. Our members include exporters and importers, manufacturers and service providers, educational institutions, industry associations, and economic development partners. Not a member yet? Reach out to Marty Hamre to learn more.

Last week, a delegation of nine wood construction companies from the province of Quebec visited Maine to identify partners and potential business opportunities. The visit included a tour of UMaine Advanced Structures & Composites Center, as well as an industry roundtable on construction in Maine and Quebec. A meeting at SMRT Architects & Engineers was followed by a pitch session, networking lunch, and B2B meetings in Portland. On the final day, the delegation visited University of Southern Maine with phME-passivhausMAINE and SMRT Architects & Engineers.

Today concluded the State of Maine mission to Norway and Denmark led by Governor Janet Mills to promote and position Maine as a world leader in the responsible development and deployment of offshore wind. The mission was organized by MITC with support from the Maine Governor's Energy Office, the Maine Governor's Office of Policy Innovation and the Future, the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development, the Maine Department of Transportation, and Maine Port Authority. This week's mission provided a valuable opportunity for state officials to meet directly with international government officials who value bilateral collaboration and with business and industry leaders who are deeply interested in investing in Maine’s emerging floating offshore wind industry. Safe travels as our delegation returns home. We look forward to using the knowledge and building on the relationships gained in Norway and Denmark to help Maine responsibly harness the tremendous environmental and economic opportunities offered by offshore wind.

This week, MITC President Wade Merritt and International Trade Specialist Abigail Gray are part of the State of Maine delegation led by Governor Janet Mills visiting Norway and Denmark to promote and position Maine as a world leader in the responsible development and deployment of offshore wind. The mission is organized by MITC with support from the Maine Governor's Energy Office, the Maine Governor's Office of Policy Innovation and the Future, the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development, the Maine Department of Transportation, and Maine Port Authority. In Denmark, the delegation visited The Danish Parliament - Folketinget in Copenhagen and met with the Chair and members of the Climate, Energy and Utilities Committee. The group discussed transmission line capacity, battery storage, Denmark’s ambitious energy goals, and Maine’s work to embrace clean energy and pursue the vast benefits of offshore wind for Maine people. At the Danish Energy Agency, the Deputy Director briefed the delegation on Denmark's energy challenges, ambitious clean energy goals, and the ongoing development of their offshore wind industry. In a meeting with U.S. Ambassador to Denmark Alan Leventhal, Governor Mills shared our goal to position and promote Maine as a leader in floating offshore wind energy and to attract investment and increase collaboration with countries like Denmark. Today, the delegation participated in a roundtable with the Danish Confederacy of Industry to share?Maine's offshore wind plans with Danish companies and show Maine is ready to welcome their business.?In Fredericia, the group visited Energinet, Denmark's national transmission system operator for electricity and natural gas for a briefing on the operation of Denmark's transmission grid and integration of renewable energy sources. Traveling to Port Esbjerg, the delegation saw firsthand how the port supports the marshaling, assembly, and deployment of offshore wind components - and the many jobs that the industry supports. The final stop of the day was the NorSea House of Offshore Innovation, which has been operating in the offshore energy industry since the 1960s and is a key part of Denmark's transition to clean energy.

We’re pleased to welcome Tulpamancer as a new MITC Member. Thank you for supporting our work! MITC members include manufacturers, service providers, educational institutions, industry associations, and economic development partners. Not a MITC member yet? Learn more about membership: https://lnkd.in/g8wfj3xR

MITC Members, Clients, and Partners - Join us for our next Sector Spotlight networking event on November 12th to make new connections. Thank you to our event sponsor Deer Brook Consulting. Come early for a tour at Maine Maritime Museum before the networking reception. We hope to see you there! Learn more and register today. https://lnkd.in/gV_5fPKT

This week, MITC President Wade Merritt and International Trade Specialist Abigail Gray are part of the State of Maine delegation led by Governor Janet Mills visiting Norway and Denmark to promote and position Maine as a world leader in the responsible development and deployment of offshore wind. The mission is organized by MITC with support from the Maine Governor's Energy Office, the Maine Governor's Office of Policy Innovation and the Future, the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development, the Maine Department of Transportation, and Maine Port Authority. In Norway on the first day, the delegation visited the Port of Bergen and learned about efforts to provide charging options to ships in port in order to reduce pollution and carbon emissions; participated in discussions with Norwegian companies involved in offshore wind; and traveled to ?ygarden to visit Northern Lights JV, the world’s first commercial carbon dioxide transport and storage service. The project will allow companies to transport and sequester CO2 emissions, helping Europe meet goals established under the Paris Agreement. On the second day in Norway, the group traveled to Haugesund, a coastal city on the North Sea with a population about half the size of Portland. They surveyed wind turbines from the shore at the Marine Energy Test Centre (METCentre) - a world-leading test center for floating offshore renewable energy (In 2009, the METCentre launched the world's first floating offshore wind turbine.) - and were briefed by officials from Norwegian Offshore Wind, an organization that represents developers and supply chain companies. Discussions included research, operation of wind turbines, and coexisting with fisheries and other maritime interests, as well as opportunities in the Gulf of Maine. Finally, the delegation visited Aibel Yard, a major manufacturing facility that constructs and assembles offshore wind converter platforms and other offshore wind components. Tomorrow, the mission continues in Denmark.

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT:? A new MITC member in 2024, Victoria Flynn Consulting helps established organizations increase funding, expand team capacity, build strategy, and launch practical mission-driven programs. As a trusted advisor to nonprofits, foundations, community-based organizations, and rural municipalities, Victoria’s work focuses on increasing capacity through strategy, fund development, and practical planning. https://lnkd.in/g5paD8nP We work with MITC members located in all 16 Maine counties. Our members include exporters and importers, manufacturers and service providers, educational institutions, industry associations, and economic development partners. Not a member yet? Reach out to Marty Hamre to learn more.