TL;DR:
- Kennebunk-based AI startup Eternal Mind will establish a quantum computing research center at the former Loring Air Force Base in Limestone.
- Eternal Mind will be the first company of its kind in Maine and aims to revitalize Loring as an aerospace and technology hub.
- Green 4 Maine, which owns part of the base, recruited Eternal Mind to help with the revitalization efforts.
- The base closed in 1994, leading to the loss of over 700 jobs, but Green 4 Maine plans to create new housing and jobs in the region.
- Eternal Mind plans to create 30 to 50 new jobs and open its research center by the end of the year.
- The company’s data center will be located on nearly 5 acres of land at Loring, in a building that was previously an Air Force data center.
- Eternal Mind’s choice of Loring was influenced by the existing digital infrastructure and potential for future growth.
- Another company, DG Fuels, plans to invest in Loring by building a facility to produce sustainable aviation fuel.
- Eternal Mind sees quantum computing as a crucial technology that can accelerate scientific research, including drug development.
- Quantum computers can simulate the effects of drugs on human bodies faster than traditional computers.
- The company aims to compete with major players in quantum computing, such as Google, IBM, and Microsoft.
Main AI News:
A pioneering venture in the realm of artificial intelligence is poised to make its mark in Limestone. Kennebunk-based Eternal Mind, an innovative startup specializing in AI, will soon commence the refurbishment of a groundbreaking quantum computing research center at the former Loring Air Force Base. While initially claiming it would be the world’s inaugural data center of its kind, the company has since clarified that it will be the foremost establishment of its kind in Maine.
Eternal Mind CEO Avery Thomas exclaimed, “This heralds the advent of Maine’s premier large-scale technology company.” Established in 2021, Eternal Mind holds the distinction of being the inaugural company enlisted by Green 4 Maine, an organization that possesses a share of the former base, to spearhead the revitalization of Loring as an aerospace and technology hub.
Following the base’s closure in 1994, with 3,800 acres of the sprawling 9,000-acre expanse transitioning into the Loring Commerce Centre managed by the Loring Development Authority, a significant number of industrial and manufacturing facilities have departed, resulting in the loss of over 700 jobs.
Earlier this year, Green 4 Maine, a development corporation based in Maine, acquired 450 acres from the Loring Development Authority with a pledge to construct new residential units and generate hundreds of employment opportunities in the region within the next decade. Prior to their venture into Aroostook County, the group had successfully embarked on manufacturing development projects in southern Maine.
With the ambitious goal of establishing a research center at Loring and generating 30 to 50 new positions by year-end, Eternal Mind aspires to achieve a significant milestone that would enable Green 4 Maine to fulfill its promise to Loring, stipulating the creation of a minimum of 75 fresh job opportunities prior to further acquisition of Loring land, as agreed upon with the Loring Development Authority.
Carl Flora, president, and CEO of the Loring Development Authority, expressed his perspective, stating, “I believe this endeavor is an integral part of our comprehensive development initiative. Eternal Mind possesses the potential to provide technologically oriented employment prospects for the region.”
Quantum computers, which digitally simulate physical and biological processes, hold immense value for scientists engaged in the research of novel pharmaceuticals. Since quantum computing represents a branch of AI that seeks to replicate elements of human cognition, it offers invaluable assistance to researchers. CEO Avery Thomas elucidated, “In the case of scientists investigating potential new drugs, quantum computers can emulate the effects of those medications on human bodies. While traditional computers may require several months to execute these simulations, quantum computers can accomplish the same task within a matter of days.”
Situated on an expanse of nearly 5 acres at the intersection of Cupp and Northcutt roads within Loring, Eternal Mind’s data center will be established in a building that previously served as an Air Force data center, responsible for compiling classified military data before ceasing operations in 2017.
Notably, Eternal Mind is not the sole enterprise investing in Loring. Washington, D.C.-based DG Fuels declared its intentions in November to construct a state-of-the-art facility valued at $4 billion to produce sustainable aviation fuel. Although the 1,240-acre site earmarked for DG Fuels remains under the ownership of the Loring Development Authority, Green 4 Maine has expressed keen interest in acquiring the property.
Thomas cited the preexisting digital infrastructure of the building and the vast surrounding land as compelling reasons for Eternal Mind’s choice of Loring. The company envisions northern Maine at the forefront of technological innovation. Thomas stated, “Quantum computing is still in its infancy, with only a handful of major players on the West Coast, such as Google, IBM, and Microsoft. We are prepared to compete with these industry giants.“
Conlcusion:
The establishment of Eternal Mind’s quantum computing research center at the former Loring Air Force Base in Limestone, Maine, marks a significant milestone for the market. This development signifies the emergence of Maine as a hub for cutting-edge technology and innovation in the field of artificial intelligence. With Eternal Mind’s presence, the region stands to benefit from the creation of new high-tech jobs and the revitalization of Loring as an aerospace and technology center.
Additionally, the company’s focus on quantum computing and its potential applications in scientific research, particularly in the pharmaceutical industry, highlights the growing importance of this technology in advancing various sectors. As competition in the quantum computing market intensifies, the entry of Eternal Mind, alongside other industry giants, will drive further innovation and propel the market forward, paving the way for future advancements and breakthroughs.
