Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences is one of Maine's gems. Internationally recognized by the research community, this non-profit research institution studies oceans, coastal seas, and estuaries to discover the medical, commercial, and other benefits of marine microorganisms. There is a whole range of known benefits from these microorganisms, including fatty acids that can be converted to biofuels and compounds to be used in grain development. "At this point we know less than 2% of the chemical formation"," says Graham Shimmield, Executive Director, Bigelow Laboratory. There is a vast area of research to discover the opportunities for commercial development. $4.5 million from MTAF will enable the laboratory to accelerate the commercialization of its research.

The laboratory has leased cramped quarters since its inception in 1974, and bold thinking by the board of trustees encouraged Bigelow to pursue funding to build a new, permanent home to support its research efforts and to drive its commitment to technology transfer. In addition to receiving $4.5 million from MTAF, the laboratory has secured $4.975 million from National Science Foundation, and a $9.1 million grant from National Institute of Standards and Technology to build the new 7,000-square-foot facility in East Boothbay.

"The MTAF award was significant in its ability to help us secure additional investments," says Shimmield. MTAF made all the difference."

Bigelow is an international firm and could build its laboratory anywhere with ocean access, but is committed to the Boothbay region due to the quality of life as well as for the areas emerging maritime cluster. Having this internationally renowned firm here clearly boosts Maine's reputation, but also brings much-needed jobs to the area. Not all of our jobs are in science," says Shimmield. "We offer jobs in administration, information technology, service engineers, and more. We have a good pool of potential employees here."

The laboratory estimates that it has contributed $13 million to the state's economy in 2010 alone, and that building the new facility will generate more than $21 million in wages, salaries, and benefits. It will significantly boost the emerging maritime cluster in the region, providing a range of jobs in addition to attracting leading scientists from around the world. Another positive impact will be to boost Maine's reputation as a leader in scientific research. While the lab is well known internationally among the world of scientists, the new facility can put Maine on the map," says Shimmield.

Captain Paul Wells thought often about the power of ocean currents during his career as a cruise industry executive. After retiring in 2004, he attended the first EnergyOcean conference and approached one of the presenters with a question, how would I go about starting a company focused on generating electricity from ocean currents?" And the idea for Ocean Renewable Power Company (ORPC) was born...

Floating fish farms are easier to tend when constructed in sheltered waters. But that means that coastal views are disrupted and waste can accumulate despite the motion of waves. So farmers install expensive feed monitoring equipment or tow the pens to new locations thus burning fuel and increasing cost. In waters off Puerto Rico, researchers from Massachusetts Institute of Technology test a self-propelled spherical fish cage made by Ocean Farm Technologies.

Portugal isn't what you might think of when you think about small businesses in Maine. But that's where Chris Houle and Peter Murray found their largest client in the early days of starting Quantrix, a small desktop software company based in Southern Maine. It opened their eyes to the potential of their product in international markets; six years later and now half of their clients are overseas. We would never think of ourselves as having just a local market,states Chris Houle, CEO of Quantrix. In 2002, Houle co-founded the company with Murray, Chief Technology Officer, and it has grown by leaps and bounds largely because of this very attitude. While the United States is the country with the single most sales, the other 50 percent of Quantrix's sales is entirely international...

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. Over the next 18 months, the cluster members worked together to demonstrate the feasibility and marketability of producing an environmentally friendly organic plastic from one of the state's traditional crops. The collaborating organizations have evaluated establishing a trade association to exchange information, influence related policies, educate consumers and other companies, and build market awareness for Maine made potato-plastic products...

At Tex Tech, there is no shortage of ideas. Big ones. Good ones. After all, this is a company that has survived since the late 1800s, adapting and thriving over the years to meet the market. While countless other textile manufacturing companies in New England have closed up shop, Tex Tech has gone back to the drawing board to develop new ideas, helping the company move forward. Nearly a century ago, it was pro baseball uniforms. Today, Tex Tech produces specialty fibers and fabrics - mainly used for security and safety related products - and is the world’s leading producer of tennis ball felt...