Our Focus Areas

for building a globally competent workforce

Businesses today are looking for employees who have a broad understanding of the diverse, interconnected world beyond their immediate environment and who are able to communicate effectively with people of varying nationalities and cultural backgrounds. The Maine North Atlantic Institute fosters workforce development initiatives that build the global competence of our future workforce

Market Access

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The MNAI promotes business models of success that further Maine’s economic growth in the North Atlantic Region through collaborations and partnerships that connect businesses with the services they need to be competitive: regulatory compliance, risk management, regulatory advocacy, public policy leadership, and maritime and oceans law. Because businesses today are seeking employees who can approach business problems with ingenuity, innovation, and an entrepreneurial mindset, we sponsor workforce development initiatives that build the 21st century skills of our future workforce.  

Projects

Ross Hickey

Collaborators

New England Ocean Cluster House

Portland, Maine

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Iceland Ocean Cluster House

Reykjavik, Iceland

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Reykjavik University

Reykjavik, Iceland

Courses

MeRTEC Experiential Ethics Study Abroad in Iceland
Carol Nemeroff 
Robert Bruce Thompson

Collaborators

New England Ocean Cluster House

Portland, Maine

​

Iceland Ocean Cluster House

Reykjavik, Iceland

​

Reykjavik University

Reykjavik, Iceland

MBA Practicum: Experiential New England Ocean Cluster Collaboration

Robert Heiser

New England Ocean Cluster House

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Iceland Ocean Cluster House

Portland Maine waterfront businesses

Gulf of Maine Research Institute

Matthew Hoffman

Collaborators

The Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research

Norway

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RURALIS Institute for Rural and Regional Research

Trondheim, Norway

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Faculty of Landscape and Society, Norwegian University of Life Sciences

Ås, Norway

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Nofence AS (Grazing Technology Company)

Batnfjordsøra, Norway

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The James Hutton Institute

Aberdeen, Scotland

Innovation & Creativity Summer Session
Richard Bilodeau

Collaborators

Reykjavik University

Hallur Sigurdsarson 

Pall Rickardsson 

Hrefna Briem

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New England Ocean Cluster House

Portland, Maine 

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Iceland Ocean Cluster House

Reykjavik, Iceland

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Maine Brewers

Allagash Brewing Company

Rising Tide Brewing

Bissell Brothers

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Maine Brewers Guild

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Iceland & Maine Tourism: Research, Travel Class, Masters Class in Iceland
Tracy Michaud

Tourism & Hospitality Program Advisory Board

University of Iceland Tourism Faculty

Reykjavik University Faculty

Reykjavik University Industry Advisory Board

Environment &

Community Health

The goals we've put in place

We work closely with our partners in Maine and the North Atlantic to strengthen students' understanding of climate change and its broad global effects, its impacts on community and human health, and its influence on our global, national, and state economy.

Projects

Suds to Shrimp: Recirculating Aquaculture & Aquaponics Systems

Theodore Willis

Collaborators

Whole Oceans

Maine

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University of Maine

Orono, Maine

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Alewife Harvesters of Maine

Maine

Sustainable Adaptations to Climate & Landscape Change
Firooza Pavri

Collaborators

University of Iceland

Reykjavik, Iceland

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University of Akureyri

Akureyri, Norway

Iceland Ocean Cluster House

Reykjavik, Iceland

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New England Ocean Cluster

Portland, Maine

National Land Survey of Iceland

Akranes, Iceland

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Courses

Samstarf & Samarbeid: Exploring Public Health Collaboration in the North Atlantic
Judith Tupper

University of Iceland

Reykjavik University
 

University of Akureyri
 

University of Tromso
 

Robert Gordon University
 

Various business and governmental partners in Iceland, Norway, and Scotland

Seaweed Farming Renaissance in Maine & Iceland: Bio-economy Workforce Development
Ike Levine

Collaborators

Ocean Approved

Paul Dobbins

Sea Grant

Chris Davis

Dana Moore

ATEC, Algal Cultivation Extension

Jeff Flimlin

University of Akureyri

Akureyri, Norway

Reykjavik University

Reykjavik, Iceland

Cultural Connections

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We work closely with our partners in Maine and the North Atlantic to strengthen students' understanding of climate change and its broad global effects, its impacts on community and human health, and its influence on our global, national, and state economy.

Projects

Ross Hickey

Collaborators

New England Ocean Cluster House

Portland, Maine

​

Iceland Ocean Cluster House

Reykjavik, Iceland

​

Reykjavik University

Reykjavik, Iceland

Courses

MeRTEC Experiential Ethics Study Abroad in Iceland
Carol Nemeroff 
Robert Bruce Thompson

MBA Practicum: Experiential New England Ocean Cluster Collaboration

Robert Heiser

Matthew Hoffman

Collaborators

The Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research

Norway

​

RURALIS Institute for Rural and Regional Research

Trondheim, Norway

​

Faculty of Landscape and Society, Norwegian University of Life Sciences

Ås, Norway

​

Nofence AS (Grazing Technology Company)

Batnfjordsøra, Norway

​

The James Hutton Institute

Aberdeen, Scotland

Innovation & Creativity Summer Session
Richard Bilodeau

Iceland & Maine Tourism: Research, Travel Class, Masters Class in Iceland
Tracy Michaud

Course only Collaboration

Maine Regulatory & Training Ethics Center

Ross Hickey

Landscapes & Livelihoods in the North Atlantic: Research partnerships for rural community development

Matthew Hoffman

The Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research Norway

RURALIS Institute for Rural and Regional Research Trondheim, Norway

Faculty of Landscape and Society, Norwegian University of Life Sciences

Ås, Norway

Nofence AS (grazing technology company) Batnfjordsøra, Norway

The James Hutton Institute Aberdeen, Scotland

Courses

MeRTEC Experiential Ethics Study Abroad in Iceland
Carol Nemeroff 
Robert Bruce Thompson

Innovation & Creativity Summer Session
Richard Bilodeau

Collaborators

Reykjavik University

School of Business

Bio-Innovation

Dept. of Psychology

Reykjavik University

Hallur Sigurdsarson 

Pall Rickardsson 

Hrefna Briem

New England Ocean Cluster House

Iceland Ocean Cluster House

Maine Brewers Guild

Maine Brewers

Allagash Brewing Company

Rising Tide Brewing

Bissell Brothers