405 Water Street, Suite 300
Gardiner, ME 04345
207.582.4790
mainetechnology.org
[email protected]
The Maine Technology Institute (MTI) is an industry-led NON-PROFIT
corporation that offers EARLY-STAGE CAPITAL and commercialization
assistance in the form of COMPETITIVE GRANTS, loans and equity
investment for the RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT and application of
TECHNOLOGIES that create NEW PRODUCTS, processes and
services, generating HIGH-QUALITY JOBS across Maine.
Investing in Innovation for a Prosperous Maine
MTI works with entrepreneurs,
innovators, established businesses and
institutions conducting research and
development (R&D) to help them
FUND and GROW their BIG IDEAS,
CONNECT to resources across the
state and create RESULTS for Maine.
Our programs help innovators
accelerate progress to the market,
leverage additional private and public
investment, and ultimately, expand
their economic impact in Maine.
Statewide Funding
From FY99-FY09, MTI has FUNDED
1,295 technology PROJECTS in
Maine, a financial commitment of $106 million
that has LEVERAGED over $173 MILLION in
additional FUNDING for a total of $279 million.
FUNDS have been AWARDED to companies
and organizations in all 16 COUNTIES in Maine.
The LARGEST NUMBER of awards have been
to recipients in CUMBERLAND COUNTY but
the largest distributions of MTI funds on a PER
CAPITA basis have been in LINCOLN and
WASHINGTON COUNTIES.
For every $1 OF MTI
FUNDS an additional
$14 IN NON-MTI
FUNDING
is leveraged.
MTI funded companies say that MTI FUNDING has been CRITICAL to their commercial success.
MTI continues to INVEST in the state’s
targeted SECTORS with a FOCUS on
GROWING and STRENGTHENING
CLUSTERS of activity that include supporting
expansion of research and development;
expanding the workforce, particularly those
with graduate training within each sector;
supporting creation of new firms; and linking
to networks and alliances for financing and
product development.
Technology Sectors
•
•
•
•
Advanced Technologies for Forestry & Agriculture • Environmental Technology
Aquaculture and Marine Technology
• Information Technology
Biotechnology
• Precision Manufacturing Technology
Composite Materials Technology
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Governor-appointed, private, industry-led
board of directors. Works with VOLUNTARY
BOARDS of experts from each technology
sector to EVALUATE MTI proposals &
applications, make funding
recommendations, and CONTRIBUTE their
in-depth knowledge of their industries'
technologies and needs in Maine.
MTI TEAM
TECHNOLOGY BOARDS
Nearly 100 experienced business and
technology experts volunteer their time
to serve on MTI's seven technology
boards. Service on the MTI Technology
Boards is purely voluntary, and is "open
to private sector representatives, scientists
and others determined appropriately
representatives of the targeted technology
sectors" (Sec. AAA-3. 5MRSA c.407).
Anyone interested in serving on a
Technology Board is encouraged to
contact the Chair of the Technology
Board, or the president of MTI Betsy
Biemann, bbiemann@mainetechnology.
org, and their interest will be given due
consideration by the Technology Board,
and the MTI Board of Directors.
Partnerships
MTI works with partners across the state invested in seeing Maine’s
entrepreneurial economy grow.
Technology
Incubators
ATTRACTS additional INVESTMENT to the state
GROWS Maine’s TECHNOLOGY CLUSTERS
so it is easier for our companies to grow
increases
Maine’s
GLOBAL
economic
competitiveness
invests in COMPANIES that PIONEER Maine’s FUTURE
From FY99 –FY09, 1,295 projects were funded in over 600 businesses across all seven
technology sectors. Over $106 million has been awarded, leveraging co-investment of nearly
$173 million. Annual report provided to the Legislature each year.
increases private and public investment in Maine companies
helps to CREATE and sustain
high-paying JOBS in existing and new companies
Evaluation of Maine Technology Institute Programs Conducted by Dr. Charles S. Colgan and Dr. Bruce Andrews Center for Business and
Economic Research University of Southern Maine. Available at: http://mti.mysitestaging.com/results
At Tex Tech, there is NO SHORTAGE
OF IDEAS. Big ones. Good ones.
Over the past five years, MTI
FUNDING HAS HELPED TEX TECH
accelerate their product development
and translate their advanced textiles to
high value markets: BALLISTIC
PROTECTION, fire resistant materials.
For example, one of the $10,000 MTI
AWARDS Tex Tech received LED TO
$750,000 in Small Business and
Innovation Research funding from the
Department of Defense for ballistics
research.
INNOVATION:
a new way of doing
something that people
will pay for and that
has value to society
Tex Tech Industries, Inc.
Corporate Headquarters
One City Center, 11th Floor
Portland, ME 04101
207-756-8606
Tex Tech Industries, Inc.
P.O. Box 8, Main Street
North Monmouth, ME 04265
207-933-4404
www.textechindustries.com
Bigelow has recently EXPANDED their research
CAPABILITIES with a Liquid Chromatography Mass
Spectrometer (LC-MS). Additional MTI AWARDS were
MATCHED with $350,650 in other funds to purchase the
device which can help determine the molecular makeup of a
particular substance. This instrument has already been
CRUCIAL in ATTRACTING over $438,000 in FUNDING
from NSF to examine algal blooms and climate change.
Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences
180 McKown Point
P.O. Box 475
West Boothbay Harbor,
Maine 04575
Phone: (207) 633-9600
Fax: (207) 633-9641
www.bigelow.org
BIGELOW is a NONPROFIT INSTITUTE whose scientists
are WHOLLY FINANCED BY GRANT FUNDING. Access to
an on-site SEM (funded by MTI) has enabled BIGELOW TO
RECRUIT AND RETAIN SEVERAL RESEARCHERS from
other institutions and, in a COMPETITIVE FUNDING
ENVIRONMENT, scientists who have these tools in their
home laboratories have a LEG UP on those that don’t.
AccelGolf is featured in iTunes! Ranked #1 Sports app!
The mobile and Web applications have a database of
more than 22,000 courses in 60 countries, allowing
golfers to keep a digital scorecard of their round,
calculate the distance of shots, and store information
about every shot to help lower a score the next time
out. mCaddie has received two Seed Grants and a
Development Award from the Maine Technology
Institute. The funding has helped the company create
and grow its Web-based applications and bring
AccelGolf to the marketplace.
Tools for savvy golfers.
Improve your game with personalized statistics,
easy to use tools, and the best golf community in the
world.
McCaddie
William Sulinski
[email protected]
P.O. Box 3514
Portland, Maine 04104-351
Bioplastics Cluster Looks to Maine Potatoes
In 2008, the MTI board of directors approved a
Cluster Enhancement Award of $200,000,
matched by $459,000, to support a
SUSTAINABLE BIOPLASTICS CLUSTER project
to make PLA, a biodegradable plastic from MAINE
POTATOES.
The MTI Cluster Enhancement Award IS HELPING
MEMBERS of the sustainable bioplastics cluster WORK
TOGETHER to develop and SHARE KNOWLEDGE AND
INNOVATION, as well as overcome barriers quickly,
through COLLABORATION on standards, methods and
applications that collectively could lead to new and
improved Maine products.
By working together, they aim to demonstrate the
feasibility of potato or wood PLA TECHNOLOGY,
lead the industry, grow businesses and CREATE
JOBS, while having a positive effect on the
environment—not just in Maine, but across the
country
.
Maine
Initiatives, Inc.
info@maineiniti
atives.org
207-622-6294
Fax: 622-6295
P.O. Box 2248
Augusta, ME
04338
IDEA
FEASIBILITY
PROTOTYPE
DEVELOPMENT
COMMERCIALIZATION
Seed Grant
Phase 0
SBIR Phase I
Phase 0
SBIR Phase II
Pre-Phase II Grant
Accelerated Commercialization Fund
Development Award
MTI SBIR Technical Assistance Program
Legend
SBIR/STTR Federal Program
SEED GRANTS
Alba-Technic LLC, Arundel - Developing
an innovative neuro-protective device
made from advanced materials
$1,000 to
$12,500 each
Awarded 6
times per year
Early-stage
R&D projects
leading to
commercializa
tion
Activities
include market
research,
patent filing, &
prototype
development
Grain Surfboards, York - Innovative
surfboard kits have caught the new
wave of interest in natural surfboards
Flagsuit LLC, Southwest Harbor - Has
invented a new design and method for
fabricating astronaut space suit gloves
that are more flexible and less fatiguing
than current gloves
REQUIRE AT LEAST A 1:1 MATCH FROM THE APPLICANT
DEVELOPMENT AWARDS
Clynk, Portland - Developed a
faster, cleaner, and more
convenient service to recycle
bottles and cans
Corporate R&D:
$50,000 to
$500,000 per
application
Kenway Corporation,
Augusta - Diversifying into
marine markets, including U.S.
military projects.
Hydro International, Portland Developed new storm water
system, exporting to New
Zealand and elsewhere.
Awarded 3 times
per year
Tech Transfer
R&D: $30,000 to
$100,000 per
application
Later-stage R&D
projects
leading to
commercialization
Repayment triggered by successful commercialization.
REQUIRE AT LEAST A 1:1 MATCH FROM THE APPLICANT
PHASE 0 PROGRAM
Grants up to $5,000 per
proposal; accepted on a rolling
basis
Covers direct costs associated
with prep of an SBIR/STTR
proposal; market research &
consultant services
SBIR/STTR
TECH
ASSISTANCE
Receive no-cost proposal SBIR/STTR Phase I
& II Proposal Development Assistance
Requires a 1:1 match
Agency specific and proposal writing
workshops routinely offered.
Supports SBIR/STTR proposal
development
PREPHASE II
PROGRAM
$10,000 award; Business
Development/Commercialization
activities (to support a Phase II
proposal)
REQUIRE AT LEAST A 1:1 MATCH FROM THE APPLICANT
ACCELERATED COMMERCIALIZATION FUND
Companies
previously
awarded an
MTI
Development
Award are
eligible
Fund reserved
for follow-on
equity and near
equity
investment
Helps fill the gap
between R&D and
sales to allow
companies to
achieve significant
growth and bring
new products to
market
Uses of Funding:
Commercial
advancement of
the technology,
development,
marketing,
operations, or
working capital
Maine Food Producers Alliance
CLUSTER
AWARD
Up to $500,000
each; awarded
twice a year.
Up to $50,000
each for
planning and
feasibility.
Awarded on a
rolling basis.
REQUIRE AT LEAST A 1:1 MATCH FROM THE APPLICANT
MAINE TECHNOLOGY ASSET FUND
Funded by a $50
million bond
approved by
Maine voters in
November 2007.
In 2008 and 2009,
the MTI Board
awarded
approximately $46
million to fund 26
projects.
This third
round will
award the
remaining
approx. $7
million in
funds.
Investments
made in
equipment and
facilities
supporting
research,
development,
and
commercialization projects.
Final round in progress.
Applicants notified of
results the week of
October 12, 2010.
405 Water Street, Suite 300
Gardiner, ME 04345
207.582.4790
mainetechnology.org
[email protected]