For college students seeking internships at cutting-edge companies and employers looking for top-tier interns, applications are open for the 2026 Innovate for Maine Fellows Program, a statewide initiative connecting emerging talent with innovative Maine businesses.  

Hosted by the University of Maine’s Foster Center for Innovation, the program will connect up to 45 Maine college students with the state’s most innovative companies, offering paid, hands-on internships that drive growth and impact.

Participating businesses — from startups to larger companies — gain access to motivated interns ready to bring fresh ideas and energy, with UMaine handling recruitment, hiring and training to streamline the process, according to UMaine, in a news release. Thanks to generous support from the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development, for-profit Maine companies with fewer than 50 employees may qualify to host a fellow at no cost, while those with 50 or more employees may be eligible for a 50% subsidy. Additionally, businesses utilizing forest-based materials or supporting the forest economy may qualify for no-cost assistance through the Maine Forest Economy Accelerator.

Prospective interns who are eligible for the program include undergraduate and graduate students at Maine colleges and universities, Maine residents attending out-of-state schools and individuals with strong ties to the state. Fellows can work full or part time during the summer, with opportunities to continue part time during the academic year.

Applications for both students and companies close on Feb. 8. To apply or learn more, visit the Innovate for Maine Fellows Program website.

About the University of Maine

As Maine’s only public research university and a Carnegie R1 top-tier research institution, the University of Maine advances learning and discovery through excellence and innovation. Founded in 1865 in Orono, UMaine is the state’s land, sea and space grant university with a regional campus at the University of Maine at Machias. Our students come from all over the world and work with faculty conducting fieldwork around the globe — from the North Atlantic to the Antarctic. Located on Marsh Island in the homeland of the Penobscot Nation with UMaine Machias located in the homeland of the Passamaquoddy Nation, UMaine’s statewide mission is to foster an environment that creates tomorrow’s leaders. As the state’s flagship institution, UMaine offers nearly 200 degree programs through which students can earn bachelor’s, master’s, professional master’s and doctoral degrees as well as graduate certificates. For more information about UMaine and UMaine Machias, visit umaine.edu/about/quick-facts/ and machias.edu/about-umm/umm-facts/.