February Updates: From Deep Freeze to Forward Momentum

I hope you are all safely enduring this prolonged deep freeze. While I had hoped a New England Patriots victory in Super Bowl LX might warm us all up a bit and carry us into the spring, the team’s offensive performance was chilling and, despite a fantastic season where they seemingly overachieved, it was a disappointing final result. Of course, it’s really an embarrassment of riches that our regional team has now played in 12 Super Bowls – – that’s 20% of all the big games, so it’s hard to complain. 

We have a much news to share this month. First, we announced our Maine Technology Asset Fund 3.0 (MTAF3.0) awards. We received 113 applications requesting more than $127 Million in project funding. We conducted a thorough review of all the proposals, ultimately making 23 awards that represent investments in nine Maine counties, and support the generation of 1,233 new jobs and the retention of 2,718 current positions. The $25 million in MTAF3.0 awards will be leveraged by almost $718 million in private sector matching funds – a 29:1 ratio of private to public funds. 

We learned recently from the Governor’s Office of Policy Innovation & the Future (GOPIF) that the Governor’s proposed supplemental budget includes $200,000 for MTI to expand the Maine Entrepreneurial Resource Corp – AI (MERC AI) program to provide AI training courses to Maine businesses and entrepreneurs. The MERC AI funding is part of a larger $5.9 million set of AI-related initiatives proposed in the budget.

The Maine Life Sciences Center (MLSC) convened a cross-sector discussion around the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Tech Labs Request for Information (RFI), bringing together 11 organizations from across Maine’s research, academic, healthcare, and industry communities to assess what a competitive response from the state could look like. The conversation helped clarify potential organizing themes and where collaboration would be most compelling. Two submissions of interest ultimately moved forward in response to the RFI. The next key inflection point will be the formal funding solicitation expected this spring. MLSC is monitoring closely to confirm whether biotechnology is explicitly named as a focus area, which will inform recommended next steps and level of effort.

This past month, MTI launched a more robust “partners page” creating a space for MTI awardees to access the MTI ecosystem to offer products and services. If your organization has a product or service to offer the MTI ecosystem please visit the page, complete the short form to submit your offer, and join the likes of NKENNEAi, Carta  and CIVA to name a few.

Lastly, be sure to tune into Maine Accelerates Growth (MXG) this month (We meet on the third Thursday of every month, from 11am-12pm) and save the date for Inicio de Maine, coming to you this May 19-21 along with warmer temps.

Until next time, stay warm and be well.

Blanco y negro