PORTLAND, Maine, April 29, 2025 -- As Maine's small business owners and entrepreneurs face a challenging economic landscape, the need for fresh solutions and strategic partnerships has never been greater. So, how can innovators in the Northeast get government resources and AI to work for them? IEEE-USA's IWRC AI Summit will answer these questions and more. Gathering experts from industry, academia and government to share ideas and foster partnerships, this event is poised to be a vital stepping stone to a thriving workforce and small business economy in Maine.
"If you are a STEM entrepreneur or someone who wants to start your business in Maine, this will be your conference," says Dr. Ashanthi Maxworth, Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering at the University of Southern Maine. "Maine's economy is run by a collection of small businesses, so this event will bring together resources and representatives from industry, academia and the government, to one place, so that we can show businesses and startups the resources that are available to them here in Maine."
IWRC AI attendees will have unparalleled networking opportunities, and gain insights into federal and state technology initiatives, promoting small business and ingenuity in the northeast. From students and small business owners to regional changemakers, there will be ample time for locals to network, finding new paths for collaboration and evolution.
"Innovation is a team effort," said Brian Whitney, President of Maine Technology Institute. "By bringing together researchers, government officials, small business owners and investors, we create a powerful synergy that drives our local innovation ecosystem forward. This summit is a unique opportunity to foster these essential partnerships."
The summit boasts a growing list of hard-hitting speakers from diverse technical domains, offering valuable insights into the latest advancements and initiatives in AI and technology to foster a collaborative environment. Speakers include David Daigler (President, Maine Community College System); Brien Walton (Chairman, Maine Venture Fund); Scott Kleiman (Workforce, Governor's Office of Policy Innovation and the Future, State of Maine); and Brian Whitney (President, Maine Technology Institute), to name a few.
The IWRC AI agenda also features expert-led discussions on a wealth of topics, including:
- How Maine Can Develop and Support Its Technical Workforce
- Putting AI to Work in Maine and AI Policy Trends
- How to Find Funding as a Small Business
- Innovation and Intellectual Property, and more
Registration for IEEE-USA's IEEE-USA's Innovation, Workforce & Research Conference (IWRC) AI Summit is now open. Visit iwrc.ieeeusa.org; or contact Melissa Carl at m.carl@ieee.org.
The full agenda and list of speakers can be found at iwrc.ieeeusa.org/iwrc-portland.
About IEEE-USA:
IEEE-USA serves the public good and promotes the careers and public policy interests of nearly 160,000 engineering, computing and technology professionals who are U.S. members of IEEE, the world's largest technical professional organization.
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