At its September Board meeting, the Maine Technology Institute (MTI) Board of Directors approved nine new Seed Grants totaling $98,625 for entrepreneurs across Maine to advance their innovations. The MTI awards leveraged over $142,000 of matching funds from other sources. Entrepreneurs in this latest round represent technologies in the areas of biotechnology, environmental technology, information technology and precision manufacturing in communities from York to Hancock Counties. A complete list of September’s awardees follows.
“Maine businesses are continuously innovating.” said Betsy Biemann, MTI President in announcing the awards. “Each time we review Seed Grant applications from across the state, we see Maine’s ingenuity at work. Entrepreneurs are applying for funding for their new innovations and new technologies that will help them continue to grow and sustain their businesses. There are always promising proposals in every round of funding; only the very best of the projects can be funded. The awards are very competitive.”
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. 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.
The next deadline for application is October 14, 2010. Entrepreneurs with ideas of innovative technologies are encouraged to apply. Workshops on preparing Seed Grant applications are being held at locations in Orono, Ellsworth and Portland beginning on September 23. For more information, go to www.mainetechnology.org.
MTI is a publicly financed, private nonprofit organization created by the Legislature in 1999 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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Seed Grant Awardees September 2010
Biotechnology
The Baker Company, Inc. in Sanford for Product Line Expansion
The Baker Company is in the process of conducting early stage research and feasibility studies for the development of a specific class of laboratory product, to be sold in conjunction with its core line of biological safety cabinets to the biotechnology and medical/life sciences industry. The company has already completed information assimilation and field research; this next phase of the project will focus on product specification and development. Seed Grant Award: $12,500 Match: $12,500
SensoryCyberSystems, LLC in Orono for Laser/LED Controllers for Education & Biomedicine
SensoryCyberSystems proposes to design and construct Laser and LED controller boxes for use in education and biomedicine. These devices will allow for low-cost and easy-to-use assessment of the human visual system especially in regards to color discrimination and perception. These devices will be marketed to schools, colleges, and biomedical institutes. Seed Grant Award: $12,500 Match: $36,305
Environmental Technology
Oceanwind Technology, LLC in North Waterford for Submerged Web Foundation: Hydrodynamic Simulation
Submerged Web Foundation (SWF) is a novel approach to overcoming the challenges of making a cost-competitive deepwater foundation for offshore wind farms. Preliminary hydrodynamic research supported by MTI has generated valuable and encouraging results. This follow-up grant would allow us prepare for a Development Award proposal. Seed Grant Award: $12,500 Match: $14,500
Print Recovery Concepts, Inc. in Yarmouth to Develop Bio-based Markers
Markers are used in schools, offices and homes by adults and children. We’re developing a new marker ink produced from renewable resources, completely bio-degradable and safer than current markers due to reduced volatile organic compound (VOC) air emissions. Seed Grant Award: $12,500 Match: $19,600
Zeomatrix, LLC in Orono for Market Research on Mold Resistant Technology
Zeomatrix, LLC of Orono has developed a zeolite additive package in conjunction with the University of Maine which provides mold resistance to cellulosic materials. The scope of work is a market research study to determine the value of this product when used to provide mold resistance to cellulose insulation. Seed Grant Award: $6,000 Match: $6,000
Rohrer Technologies, Inc in York for Advanced Ocean Wave Energy Converter
The G-2 is an advanced “multi-capture-mode” semi-submerged design using rigid and flexible composites, evolved from the RTI G-1 (MTI-SG4046) providing substantially higher energy capture efficiency resulting in two additional U.S. Patent filings (May 2010). Wave tank testing and computer performance modeling will precede commercial-scale sea trials in 2011. Seed Grant Award: $12,500 Match: $16,250
Information Technology
Blue Marble Group in Gardiner for GeoCalc Java II
Blue Marble Giographics will develop a release candidate version of their coordinate conversion developer tool: GeoCalc for the Java platform. Through this project Blue Marble will address market needs for advanced coordinate conversion technology for GIS mobile devices and Cloud Computing. Seed Grant Award: $12,500 Match: $16,656
Precision Manufacturing Technology
O’Brien Medical, LLC in Orono for Vibratory Sensation Assessment Device
Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is the primary complication leading to foot ulceration and lower extremity amputation in diabetics. Prototyping and clinical testing of a novel vibratory sensation assessment device aims to develop an accurate screening tool for earlier detection of DPN. Seed Grant Award: $9,375 Match: $9,375
Flagsuit LLC in Southwest Harbor for Hyperbaric Suit for Medical Therapy
This project will conduct market research analysis to positively establish commercial demand and marketability of a full-body hyperbaric suit product for medical applications. Seed Grant Award: $8,250 Match: $10,970