Lincoln County Regional Planning Commission's Second Annual Meeting, to be held Monday, April 29 from 5-7 p.m. at Bigelow Labs, will feature groundbreaking research and innovative “technology transfer” underway at the Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences.

The guest speaker is Dr. Graham Shimmield, executive director and president, who arrived in 2008 from the United Kingdom. His experiences with Scotland's Enterprise Networks which pioneered academic technology transfer to smaller businesses, contributed to the lab's new strategic plan.

The East Boothbay facility got its funding start with the support of Maine voters and the Maine Technology Asset Fund, which spurred additional private and public sector funding and culminated in the new 62,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility set along the Damariscotta River.

Shimmield will discuss the lab's historical achievements, the innovative Corporate Alliances and Technology Transfer strategy, and economic benefits to Lincoln County and beyond.

Private-public partnerships connecting scientific research and commercial application can work to promote small and local companies common to Lincoln County and Maine.

Before the meeting, from 4-5 p.m., guests can walk through the research facility with Bigelow staff. The LCPRC is Lincoln County's economic development and land use/transportation planning organization.

The meeting will highlight LCRPC activities and the Board will elect officers and executive committee members for the coming year. The meeting is open to the public. Please call or email Emily Reinholt if you're planning to attend: ereinholt@lcrpc.org or 207-822-5152.