Microelectronics and Semiconductor
Strengthening the region's chip design, fabrication, and advanced packaging capabilities.
State of Innovation · New England
Turning regional assets into national advantage
A two-day convening of New England's innovation leaders, funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation, to turn shared regional strengths into national advantage.
Dates September 1 and 2, 2026
Location Portland, Maine
Convened by Renaissance Teams
Funded by U.S. NSF
About the convening
Regional strengths, national impact
State of Innovation: New England brings senior leaders together from across the region to identify concrete, multi-state opportunities: the kind that turn regional strengths into national advantage. Work happens in three themed nexus areas, each focused on a sector where the region already has real momentum.
Maritime and Blue Economy
Advancing ocean technology, shipbuilding, and a sustainable blue economy.
Bio and Science Ecosystem
Connecting the region's life science, biofabrication, and research strengths.
Cross-cutting themes
Threads that run across every nexus
- AI, Advanced Computing, and Quantum
- Advanced Manufacturing, Robotics, and Physical AI
- Energy
Keynote · Evening of September 1
Daniel H. O'Keefe
Commissioner, Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development, and Chief Innovation Officer, State of Connecticut
Daniel H. O'Keefe serves as Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development and as the State of Connecticut's Chief Innovation Officer. Governor Ned Lamont nominated him as Commissioner of Economic Development in November 2023, and he has been the state's first Chief Innovation Officer since July 2023.
Before entering public service, Dan was a technology investor for 25 years, most recently as a Managing Partner of Apax Partners, a global investment firm. He earned an MBA with High Distinction from Harvard Business School and an AB from Brown University.
He serves on numerous boards, including the University of Connecticut Board of Trustees, the Brown University Board of Trustees, the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities Board of Regents, Connecticut Innovations (Vice Chair), AdvanceCT (Treasurer), and the Opportunity Network (Chairman Emeritus). He will give the keynote over dinner on September 1.
Who's in the room
Senior leaders from across the region
Around sixty senior leaders, roughly ten from each of the six New England states: research university and federal lab leadership, industry executives, founders and investors, and economic development and workforce leaders, along with executive-branch science and technology advisors.
The workshop opens with a virtual session on August 19 and convenes in person in Portland on September 1 and 2.
Grant information
This convening is organized by Renaissance Teams and funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation, NSF Award No. 2546645.
View the award on NSF.govThis material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 2546645. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.