The purpose of the Consortium is to provide merit-based scholarships and co-op work experience to promising first-year, sophomore, junior, and senior students interested in the rapidly expanding microelectronics/semiconductor industry and majoring in either engineering or science at the University of Maine. The program is administered through the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering but students from all engineering and science departments are invited to apply.

The microelectronics/semiconductor industry is very interested in growing engineering expertise at the University of Maine. The members of the Consortium have found UMaine graduates to be among their best-educated, hardest working, most reliable, and loyal employees. They have recognized this talent must be cultivated early. Highly capable high school students must be recognized and encouraged to develop their intellectual expertise and given the opportunity to participate in one of the fastest growing industries of the 21st century.