For Immediate Release Contact: Joe Migliaccio
May 24, 2010
Maine Technology Institute
(207) 582-4790
Gardiner, Maine – The Maine Technology Institute (MTI) Board of Directors recently awarded 13 Seed Grants to innovative entrepreneurs and companies across Maine to advance their pioneering technologies. Over $151,000 was awarded by MTI leveraging over $237,000 from other sources. Entrepreneurs in this latest round represent technologies in the areas of aquaculture, composite manufacturing, biotech, environmental technology, advanced technologies in forestry and agriculture, information technology and precision manufacturing in communities from Vinalhaven to Bangor to Gorham and beyond. A complete list of May awardees follows.
“Every two months, MTI Seed Grants are available to entrepreneurs across Maine who are hard at work on new ideas and new products, some of which will grow into Maine’s next business success stories,” explained Betsy Biemann, MTI President. “These awards represent the on-going efforts of individual innovation at work across Maine.”
Seed Grants of up to $12,500 are offered six times a year to support early-stage research and development activities for new products and services that lead to the market. The next deadline for application is July 17, 2010. Entrepreneurs with ideas of innovative technologies are encouraged to apply.
A company may be awarded a total of up to $25,000 in multiple Seed Grants for a specific technology. All projects must fall under one of Maine’s seven targeted technology sectors including advanced technologies for forestry and agriculture, aquaculture and marine technology, biotechnology, composite materials technology, environmental technology, information technology and precision manufacturing technology.
Maine Technology Institute is a publicly financed, nonprofit organization created by Maine’s 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.
May 10, 2010 Maine Technology Institute Seed Grant Awardees
Aquaculture and Marine Technology
Phinney Enterprises in Trescott was awarded a Seed Grant of $12,500 to develop whelk culture, and characterize the reproductive cycle of local whelk populations.
Biotech
Trillium Diagnostics LLC in Bangor was awarded $12,500 to purchase a used Abbott Sapphire blood counter and to obtain FDA clearance for three tests on this testing platform. This opens $2-3 million dollars in annual sales to Trillium and the ability to employ two additional employees.
Composite Materials Technology
Lyman Morse Boatbuilding in Thomaston was awarded $12,400 for the development of Water Wheels, a self contained float system able to supply power to any power needs.
Environmental Technology
Print Recovery Concepts Inc in Yarmouth was awarded $12,500 to develop black and color soy inkjet samples to help reduce the use of the one billion inkjet cartridges, each containing several ounces of petroleum ink which are consumed annually.
Foreign Auto & Supply Inc in Harpswell was awarded $12,500 to develop a unique Engine Control Unit (ECU) and a Hydrogen Assist Generator (HAG) that work in conjunction with an automotive engine to burn hydrogen and oxygen in the combustion chamber for gas and diesel engines. The intended result is significant better fuel economy producing cleaner emissions.
Fox Islands Wind in Vinalhaven was awarded $12,358 to assess the technical feasibility of using their Active Noise Cancellation technology to help mitigate the potentially bothersome effects of wind turbine sound.
Advanced Technologies for Forestry and Agriculture
Global Protein Products in Waterville was awarded $12,500 to fund three field trials in Maine, North Dakota and Pennsylvania to test a new, non-polluting product to fight late blight, a serious potato disease worldwide.
PelletShield Engineered Products LLC in Brewer was awarded $8,600 for market research and business strategy development on their patented engineered biofuel technology for industrial and residential markets.
Seacolors in Washington was awarded $12,500 to advance their low-impact dye process using solar thermal technology utilizing natural salts and acids. This next step will utilize excess solar capacity to create a drying station, test waste waters, and implement a discharge system.
Information Technology
Creative Digital Imaging Inc in Bangor was awarded $11,280 to conduct market analysis, develop risk management strategies, and create financial projections on a new software service product line that will compliment and expand its current business platform, and upgrade and replace existing equipment in support of state-of-the-art products and services.
Precision Manufacturing Technology
Advance Electronic Concepts in Portland was awarded $9,400 to submit a patent application for an optical system for a solid state luminaire designed to operate in supermarket refrigeration cases.
Biovation LLC in Boothbay was awarded $10,000 for specific patent search and filings to develop infection control products.
Jotul North America in Gorham was awarded $12,500 to create an innovative non-catalytic top loading woodstove (to be branded as the Jotul 50 TL) which utilizes patentable cam lever technology to create an easy-to-load, clean burning, energy efficient product.