Agnieszka Carpenter is the executive director of the Bioscience Association of Maine (BioME).
From our coastal communities to our forest and farming regions, Maine has always been a place where innovation and hard work go hand in hand. Our research institutions, universities, and laboratories are not just about science — they are about creating opportunities, jobs, and economic stability for Maine people. That’s why federal investment in research isn’t just important for scientists and academics; it’s critical for families, small businesses, and communities across our state.
When the federal government invests in research at places like the University of Maine, The Jackson Laboratory, Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Science, and MDI Biological Laboratory, that money doesn’t just stay in the lab. It spreads out into the community, supporting local businesses, contractors, and service providers. From the construction workers building research facilities to the local suppliers providing equipment, federal dollars fuel economic activity that benefits Mainers across industries.
For instance, Consigli, a Maine-based construction management firm, is presently overseeing the construction of three advanced research and education facilities: the University of Maine Green Engineering and Materials building, a new research building at The Jackson Laboratory, and the Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences Education and Innovation Wing. According to Consigli, these projects, funded through federal grants, are making significant contributions to Maine’s economy by generating 330 jobs in construction and related industries and producing a total economic impact exceeding $211 million.
Good-paying jobs allow Maine families to buy homes, support local schools, and contribute to the state’s tax base and local communities. Whether it’s an entry-level lab technician straight out of a Maine community college, a scientist working on a new medical or ocean breakthrough, or an engineer developing better building materials, these careers offer stability, benefits, and room for career growth. That’s the kind of economic boost that helps keep our small towns vibrant, our Main Streets busy year-round, and our college graduates working here in Maine.
But it’s not just about jobs today — it’s about creating the industries of tomorrow.
Federal agencies can’t and don’t fund 100 percent of research and development. They expect states and institutions to have some “skin in the game.” Just three months ago, Maine voters wisely approved a $25 million investment in the state’s research and development infrastructure through a research and development bond. These funds are a forward-looking investment because right now, Maine ranks 37th in the nation for research and development activity, with only 1 percent of the state’s GDP coming from R&D — far below the national average of about 3.6 percent.
This investment by Mainers, for Mainers, is weakened by actions that curtail research funding at the federal level. By pulling back on grants or slowing federal agencies like the National Institutes of Health or National Science Foundation, our federal partners are failing to realize what Maine voters already know — that R&D investments pay back greater dividends than the upfront cost.
As Mainers, we appreciate that public research funding, either through federal or state grants, originate as taxpayer dollars, hard-earned and shared by our neighbors. We agree with the importance of reducing fraud and waste in government, but we can’t afford to undermine valuable research that benefits people in Maine and across the country. Unfortunately, Maine research programs could be collateral damage if the recent proposals to cut federal research support are permanently implemented.
We thank Sen. Susan Collins for her unambiguous statement of “strong opposition to these arbitrary cuts in funding for vital research at our Maine institutions, which are known for their excellence.” We also appreciate that Sen. Angus King and Reps. Chellie Pingree and Jared Golden are speaking out in support of Maine’s research and business community. But we urge all Maine people to take notice of the potential impact of proposed research cuts to our families and communities.
Cutting federal research funding won’t just harm science — it will harm our economy and our future.