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Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences

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.



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Investing in Innovation for a Prosperous Maine

The Maine Technology Institute (MTI) is an industry-led, publicly-funded, 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.

MTI, The Maine Center for Entrepreneurial Development and its Top Gun program and The University of Maine, with its Innovation Engineering/Jump Start programs recently celebrated the launch of the Blackstone Accelerates Growth Initiative with a $3 million grant from the Blackstone Foundation.   View Blackstone Accelerates Growth Video

More about the Blackstone Accelerates Growth initiative.

MTI - Maine Technology Institute

Since 1999, MTI has funded innovative technologies across the state to help accelerate commercial success in Maine’s seven technology sectors, biotechnology, composites and advanced materials, environmental technologies, forest and agriculture products, information technology, marine technology and aquaculture and precision manufacturing.

MTI invites all of Maine's technology-intensive businesses from across the state to learn about MTI’s funding and support services.  You can meet with members of the MTI team in Orono beginning on September 8 at the MTI Office Days at the Target Technology Center and continuing on the first Thursday of every month, at any of the workshops held regularly across the state or (beginning later in September) at the new MTI office at Brunswick Landing in Brunswick. Or if you'd rather stay close to the office, join one of MTI's upcoming webinars for more information about funding your technology business.

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.

MTI has recently updated its Business Innovation Funding program to increase access to the coaching and capital that Maine businesses need to grow. The changes are designed to speed Maine technology-based businesses along the development cycle of bringing new products to market and to simultaneously accelerate these companies’ potential for profitability and growth. MTI’s Business Innovation Program has helped fuel Maine’s innovation economy, growing companies and good jobs across the state since 2000. In the past year alone, MTI awarded $7.291 million of grants and loans to Maine companies that were ready to develop a new technology and bring it to market. MTI investments also help support higher wage jobs in Maine. Historically, the average income in Maine’s technology sectors has been $49,053, higher than Maine as a whole at $36,317 and higher than the US Average of $45,563.

Learn more about MTI's funding for business innovation in Maine at an upcoming workshop or webinar.

Read more about MTI's first decade of investing in Maine's innovation economy here.

Read about some of the many MTI award-recipient success stories here.

Catch up on the most recent news about MTI award-recipients and the great work they do across the state of Maine.

We look forward to learning about your innovation!

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