Northern New England Precision Forest Management and Advanced Forest Bioproducts Engine (NNE-PROMISE) leverages regional expertise in precision forest management, traditional wood products, and bio-based materials to complement past successes and infrastructure investments with emerging forest-based sustainable products and technologies.

Our Region and Mission​

A century ago, Northern New England was the birthplace of modern pulp and paper making, driving innovation and attracting investment and workers from around the world. After a century of prosperity, like other natural resource-based economies, the region was hit hard by market shifts and globalization resulting in mill closures, job loss, disinvestment, and community decline.

Now, a coalition of non-profit organizations, academic institutions, industry leaders, and investors are creating the next generation of forest innovation, revitalizing the region while addressing pressing social and environmental challenges.

NNE-PROMISE’s vision is to again establish northern New England as an international leader in the forest products sector, transforming a heritage industry into one that generates economic prosperity for a rural region that the technology boom has left behind.

Our Work

NNE-PROMISE encompasses three technical areas:

Precision Forest Management to develop and utilize new tools for sustainably managing 25 million acres of largely privately owned forest. LiDAR, radar, and UAV-based platforms can help forest professionals address natural resource health concerns while increasing wood supply and accessing markets for services like carbon and biodiversity.

Forest-Based Bioproducts to develop and commercialize wood-based substitutes for imported non-renewable materials: wood fiber insulation, molded fiber packaging for consumer products, biodegradable medical textiles, and 3D-printed structural building applications.

Rural Economic and Policy Analysis to inform investment and public policies through economic assessments on forest management, workforce development, entrepreneurial needs, and market opportunities.

VIEW OUR DRAFT STRATEGIC PLAN

Our Bold Goals

By 2035, NNE-PROMISE aims to deliver:

  • 5,000 new jobs in the forest products sector
  • 1,000 innovation outcomes
  • 25+ patents
  • 25% increase in forest products sector venture capital investment
  • 10% increase in forest products sector workforce capacity

Leadership Team

  • Rob Riley, President of the Northern Forest Center & PI for NNE-PROMISE
  • Joe Short, Vice President of the Northern Forest Center
  • Dr. Aaron Weiskittel, NSF I/UCRC Director of the Center for Advanced Forestry Systems at the University of Maine & Co-PI for NNE-PROMISE
  • Charlotte Bacon, Associate Provost for Research Development and Alliances of Dartmouth College & Co-PI for NNE-PROMISE
  • Ellen Kahler, Executive Director of the Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund & Co-PI for NNE-PROMISE
  • Alicia Cramer, Chief Operating Officer for the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities & Co-PI for NNE-PROMISE

Partners and Regional Coalition

The conception and development of NNE-PROMISE have been supported by the National Science Foundation’s Engines Development Award (award number 2303493). View the full portfolio of NSF Engines Development projects.