Meet Sarah Delmar: Building Maine’s Life Sciences Future

From Global Innovation Hubs to Maine’s Startup Community

When Sarah Delmar returned to Maine after more than a decade shaping innovation economies around the world, she wasn’t just coming home. She was bringing with her a vision for how Maine’s entrepreneurs could thrive. Now serving as Founding Director of the Maine Life Sciences Center at MTI, Sarah is helping position the state as a hub for life sciences innovation while ensuring entrepreneurs have the support they need to grow and create jobs.

“I grew up in a mill town in Maine, so I saw firsthand what it looks like when an economy is overreliant on a single industry,” she said. Like many Mainers, she left for school and to build her career. “For a long time I didn’t see a pathway back. Over the last five years, that changed… it felt like the right moment to return and apply my skills here.”

Her path back began at the Cambridge Innovation Center. “I spent more than a decade at Cambridge Innovation Center leading its global growth, helping cities around the world create places where startups could thrive… partnering with universities and local governments to build hubs that spark new jobs and industries.”

More recently, she helped shape Maine’s life sciences strategy with FocusMaine, working closely with BioME and statewide partners. “When it became clear that the new Life Sciences Center would be housed at MTI, it felt like the perfect opportunity to step in and help build on the momentum already underway.”

Why Life Sciences?

For Sarah, life sciences is a field that connects people, industries, and solutions.

“Life sciences is growing fast in Maine, and it builds on so many of our natural strengths, from world-class research to startups in diagnostics, bio-based products, and marine science,” she said. “What excites me is that it’s not just one industry; it cuts across all of MTI’s target sectors, from AI and advanced materials to food systems and the blue economy.”

That breadth also means opportunity. “It means good, accessible jobs at every level, and it tackles some of the biggest challenges in human, animal, and environmental health. The chance to help Maine lead in that space… feels like the right opportunity at the right time.”

Her role at MTI underscores the significance of the moment. “This is the first time MTI has created a leadership role dedicated to a specific sector… That gives us the chance to align our efforts more tightly—within MTI, with our partners, and across the state—in pursuit of a broader strategy to grow this high-value sector.”

Tackling the Challenge of Connectivity

What’s one obstacle Sarah would solve for Maine entrepreneurs? 

“I’d solve the challenge of connectivity. Maine has incredible talent and ideas, but we’re a distributed state, and that can make it harder for entrepreneurs to find the density of peers, mentors, investors, and partners they need. If we could create a stronger center of gravity—more opportunities for people to collide, collaborate, and learn from one another—we’d accelerate company growth and strengthen the whole ecosystem.”

This vision of connection and collaboration is central to her approach at MTI. Whether it’s working with entrepreneurs one-on-one, fostering new industry partnerships, or developing statewide strategies, Sarah is focused on building the networks that help Maine’s innovators thrive.

A Personal Side of Innovation

While Sarah is deeply committed to supporting Maine’s innovators, she also carves out time to recharge and explore her home state. A classically trained singer, she’s always on the lookout for good music, and finds equal joy in cooking, hiking, and, she admits, “a really good spreadsheet”.

Her ideal weekend includes “a good hike, a great meal off the beaten path, and time with my family and toddler.”

When she’s not out on a trail, you might find her at Tinder Hearth in Brooksville—“The pizza, the bread, the whole experience—it’s magic”.

She also loves exploring new parts of Maine: “Exploring a new trail or town, usually because I’ve heard about some obscure restaurant, bakery, or coffee shop. I love finding hidden gems and staying off the beaten path.”

Looking Ahead

As Sarah steps into her role at MTI, she is energized by the momentum she sees across Maine. From startups in life sciences to entrepreneurs tackling challenges in food, energy, and marine industries, she believes Maine is at an inflection point.

“The chance to help Maine lead in that space, while creating jobs that can really anchor families here, feels like the right opportunity at the right time.”

For Sarah Delmar, supporting innovators is a way to give back to the state she calls home. And as the Maine Life Sciences Center grows under her leadership, the ripple effects will be felt not only by entrepreneurs but by families and communities statewide.