The Advanced Structures and Composites Center (ASCC) is a world-leading, interdisciplinary center for research, education, and economic development encompassing material sciences, advanced manufacturing and engineering of composites and structures. Housed in a 100,000ft2 ISO-17025 accredited facility, the ASCC has been recognized nationally and internationally for cutting edge research programs leading and impacting new industries including offshore wind and marine energy, civil infrastructure, bio-based large-scale 3D printing, soldier protection systems and innovative defense-related applications. The ASCC is the largest university-based research Center in Maine, and one of the fastest growing research laboratories in the world, with research revenue growth of 5X in the past 5 years. Facility has expanded to include 13 integrated laboratories with more than 260 full and part time personnel, including faculty, staff and students. Since its founding in 1996 with support from the National Science Foundation, the Center has financially sponsored more than 2,600 students, received 70 patents, received over 26,000 visitors, created 14 spinoff companies through licensing of patents or trade secrets, and received more than 40 national and global awards for research excellence.
The ASCC's 2020 Strategic Plan, called GEM, focuses the Center's work on Green Energy and Materials development. Through GEM, the Center is at the forefront of major new sustainability industries in the U.S., including these recent successful initiatives:
