PORTLAND – Policy makers, entrepreneurs and others will gather tomorrow in Portland to share best practices on how to help convert new ideas and products into successful businesses that, in turn, can boost the state’s economy.

The annual Technology Commercialization and Incubation Summer Institute will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. Tuesday on the seventh floor of USM’s Glickman Family Library, located at the intersection of Forest Avenue and Bedford Street in Portland.

The institute is hosted by the USM School of Business Center for Entrepreneurship and Small Business, and sponsored by the Applied Technology Development Centers, a statewide system of business incubators aimed at developing and retaining successful start-up businesses. The Maine Department of Economic and Community Development coordinates the system.

Speakers include:

• Dr. Janet Yancey-Wrona, newly appointed director of the Office of Innovation and Maine’s science and technology advisor, who will address the outlook for Maine’s science and technology businesses;

• Jim Finkle, manager of the Long Island High Technology Incubator. The award-winning incubator is noted for community and academic partnerships that generate needed services for client companies. Finkle, a graduate of the University of Maine, worked in town management in Bangor, Veazie and Vassalboro;

• Joel Wiggins, director of the Austin Technology Incubator, another award-winning technology incubator with a successful track record in preparing its client companies for early-stage capital, and introducing individual and institutional investors to companies. ATI also has a successful program that offers management know-how to its clients;

• Debbie Neuman, who will explain the Target Technology Center’s service of helping client firms create and successfully employ advisory boards.

• And John Ferland, who will describe key best practices undertaken by the Center for Environmental Enterprise.

Reservations are required and can be made by calling 780-5919 or by e-mailing [email protected]. For more information, contact Phil Helgerson, director of the Applied Technology Development Centers, at 624-9802 or [email protected]