Maine Technology Institute (MTI) recently announced its first round of the new TechStart Grants totaling $27,550 for six technology development projects in Maine to bring new products to the market. The six entrepreneurs matched their grants with a total of $43,318. The TechStart Grant is a new MTI funding opportunity offered to individuals and companies across Maine who are looking to develop new ideas and new products. TechStart Grants are awarded twelve times each year, for up to $5,000 per project. They may be used to support activities such as business plan development, intellectual property filings, market analysis, or preparation of activities related to the solicitation of private investment or submission of Federal Small Business Innovation Research or Technology Transfer Phase I grants in the development of innovative technologies.
“Congratulations to this first round of TechStart Grant entrepreneurs,” said MTI President Betsy Biemann, on the announcement. “As we launch this new grant funding, we look forward to seeing applications from across Maine from business people and innovators who have a great idea and need to complete the groundwork necessary to see their idea turn into a successful marketable product and create good jobs in Maine.”
The November Tech Start Grant awardees and projects by industry sector are:
Aquaculture and Marine Technology
University of Maine, Franklin for a Cultured Sand Worm Market Study
The University of Maine’s Center for Cooperative Aquaculture Research (CCAR) has been developing the technology for worm aquaculture since 2001. Recent research has improved the prospect of commercialization. The potential for sand worm culture systems to be integrated into fish culture systems could substantially improve the economic feasibility of land based aquaculture. This funding will support a market study for the native sand worm, needed by industry partners such as RAS Corporation who are interested in transferring the technology. The study is a required component of business plans being developed to obtain capital or Federal Grants.
Award: $5,000 Match: $5,000
Biotechnology
AboGen Inc, Portland to Outline AboGen’s Regulatory Requirements
AboGen is a Maine-based startup biotechnology company dedicated to the development and commercialization of novel sample collection kits and processing services in the field of epigenetics. AboGen’s home-based saliva collection kit allows for the cells in saliva to be preserved and later isolated by AboGen’s processing technology for downstream epigenetic applications. This funding supports the outlining of all regulatory steps that must be taken before commercialization.
Award: $5,000 Match: $8,258
Composite Materials Technology
Grifin LLC, Portland for a Reactive Materials Metal Cutting Welding Kit
The Reactive Materials Metal Cutting Welding Kit converts a standard service side arm and other guns to cut and/or weld metals for the purposes of breaching and tack welding in air and underwater without degrading the primary purpose of the weapon. A Provisional Patent has been filed. This funding supports a Non-Provisional Patent application and USPTO filing.
Award: $3,500 Match: $6,130
Environmental Technology
Pika Energy LLC, Gorham for a Turbine Adaptive Control SBIR Proposal
Pika Energy is developing small wind turbines with lower cost, faster payback, and improved safety. Pika seeks to develop advanced control algorithms to maximize the power produced by any wind turbine. This funding will support Pica’s submission of an SBIR Phase I proposal to the National Science Foundation to fund this work.
Award: $4,050 Match: $4,050
Solution Mates Inc., Scarborough for Feasibility Planning
Unique bacteria control and reusability attributes have enabled Solution Mates Inc. (SMI) to successfully market its current anti-microbial cloth, now in thousands of North American retailers. This technology is setting new standards. This grant will support SMI’s SBIR/STTR Phase-1 application to proof new anti-microbial cloth functionality, determine feasibility of, and create a manufacturing blueprint for, Maine production of SMI’s existing and next-generation exclusive wood fiber cloths (currently manufactured in Asia using foreign pulp). The long term goal is to create good Maine jobs by producing the products in Maine, and positioning Maine in global marketplace for growing wood-fiber textiles, re-establishing “made-in-Maine.”
Award: $5,000 Match: $7,200
Maine Marine Composites LLC, Portland for Cost-Effective Utility Scale Energy Storage
Maine Marine Composites (MMC) and Scale Tera Renewable Energy (SC) are forming a team to develop an approach to a cost effective utility scale energy storage system. The project team will leverage technology development from an ongoing commercial project to develop a cost effective hydrokinetic device. This project will result in a preliminary design concept, project development team as well as a new Maine-based company to pursue the project.
Award: $5,000 Match: $12,680
About MTI TechStart Grants:
MTI TechStart Grants will be awarded up to twelve times each year, for up to $5,000 per project. TechStart Grants may be used to support specific activities such as business plan development, intellectual property filings, market analysis, or preparation of activities related to the solicitation of private investment or submission of Federal Small Business Innovation Research or Technology Transfer Phase I grants in the development of innovative technologies. TechStart Grant projects must have clearly defined deliverable outcomes and endpoints for the specifically funded scope of work not to exceed six months in duration. Each grant requires a 1:1 match. The next TechStart Grant application deadline is January 10.
MTI is a publicly financed, private nonprofit organization created by the Legislature to stimulate research and development activity leading to the commercialization of new products, processes and services in the state’s seven technology-intensive sectors. Programs are designed to enhance the competitive position of those sectors and increase the likelihood that one or more of the sectors will support clusters of industrial activity and create quality jobs across Maine. More about MTI at: www.mainetechnology.org.
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