PORTLAND, Maine (AP) A public university in Maine is launching a new institute to try to create new partnerships between the state and countries in the North Atlantic.

The University of Southern Maine unveiled the plans for the Maine North Atlantic Institute on Nov. 1. The university says professors and researchers have been working on the initiative for three years, some in places such as Iceland, Norway and Scotland.

The school describes the institute as an “economic and educational collaboration” that will bring together businesses, learning institutions and others to “provide the tools to support the growth of Maine’s economy.”

USM says the institute will help businesses in Maine reach the North Atlantic market. The effort will touch on subjects such as rural health, marine innovation and regulatory challenges.