The Maine Technology Institute (MTI) Board of Directors awarded over $84K in seven new Seed Grants to entrepreneurs and companies across Maine to advance new product development in aquaculture and marine technology, biotechnology, composite materials technologies, environmental technologies, information technology and precision manufacturing. Seed Grants are designed to support early-stage research and development activities to bring new products to market. This round of MTI awards leveraged over $113K of matching contributions from the award recipients.
“MTI congratulates this latest round of Seed Grant award recipients,” said MTI President Betsy Biemann, on the announcement. “Seed Grants are highly competitive with only one in four companies being funded. Successful awardees must contribute matching funding of at least $1 for every $1 of funding from MTI. They are now off and running! MTI continues to work with these entrepreneurs and also links them to other resources to help them achieve commercial success and grow good jobs for Maine people. ”
The July Seed Grant Awardees by industry sector are:
Aquaculture and Marine Technology
RAS Corporation in Brunswick for Enhanced-RAS prototype: Phase 1
RAS Corp will farm marine aquatics in integrated land-based facilities and will develop a specific part of this technology: combined culture of polychaete worms and finfish. The Center for Cooperative Aquaculture Research (CCAR) will conduct trials on prototype system design for integrated polychaete-black sea bass production units.
Seed Grant Award: $12,305 Match: $15,490
Biotechnology
AboGen Inc. in Portland for Prototyping of AboGen’s Sample Collection Device
AboGen Inc. develops, manufactures, and commercializes novel sample collection kits and provides analysis services in the field of epigenetics. This grant will enable the prototyping of a safe, user-friendly sample collection device for home-based sample collection for epigenetic research.
Seed Grant Award: $12,500 Match: $25,789
Composite Materials Technology
S. Walsh LLC in Portland for Apparatus to secure components to substrates
This grant will fund the development and testing of a prototype automated manufacturing machine for the production of Clipstick™, a fast, reliable, and cost reducing means of securing electrical wiring to building framing. In addition, this grant will fund the filing of a patent for Clipstick™.
Seed Grant Award: $12,500 Match: $17,485
Advanced Infrastructure Technologies, LLC in Orono for Bridge Foundation Design Software Development
The Bridge-in-a-Backpack™ system is an innovative buried composite arch bridge system. Working with researchers at UMaine, AIT has developed custom bridge design software which accounts for the strength of the backfill soil. This project expands this software to include foundation analysis enabling the design of more cost-effective foundations.
Seed Grant Award: $12,250 Match: $12,272
Environmental Technology
Beltane Solar Inc. in Topsham for Concentrated Solar PV for Thermal Collector Prototype
Beltane Solar Inc. is commercializing technology that will concentrate the sun’s energy to create power and hot water. The design has a total efficiency of >60% yet is simple, scalable, reliable and low cost. Future accessories will allow energy autonomous water desalination and sanitation.
Seed Grant Award: $12,000 Match: $19,200
Information Technology
Maine Marine Composites LLC in Portland for Large Area, Ultra-ThinPressure Sensor Arrays
Maine Marine Composites is developing a sensor system to collect multi-point pressure data on large surfaces immersed in fluids. This project will result in a preliminary design for a large area pressure array, market research to determine market size and sales channels, and contractual agreements between our partners.
Seed Grant Award: $10,475 Match: $10,970
Precision Manufacturing Technology
Soleras LTD in Biddeford for Lithium Thin Film Market Research
Soleras has developed a process to manufacture lithium targets for thin-film sputtering using a configuration that offers improved material-utilization efficiency. This project will enable the market research and strategic business strategy development necessary to make an informed decision regarding investment in the new and unique capital equipment needed to pursue the potential lithium battery opportunity.
Seed Grant Award: $12,500 Match: $12,759
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 August 11, 2011. Entrepreneurs with ideas of innovative technologies are encouraged to apply.
MTI is a publicly financed, private nonprofit organization created by the 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. 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.