Local Companies Receive Grants

The Maine Technology Institute (MTI) board of directors approved 19 seed grants to technology companies across Maine. Over $169,000 was awarded, leveraging over $210,000 from other sources. Thirteen of the 19 awardees are new award winners. All seven of the State’s designated technology sectors are represented.

“More and more entrepreneurs and business owners are looking to innovate and expand.” said MTI president Betsy Biemann. “This latest seed grant round drew more than 70 applications; it is very exciting to see. Companies funded by MTI are bringing new products to the market, leveraging nearly $200 million from public and private sources and creating jobs faster with higher wages than the average Maine company. MTI seed grants range from $1,000 to $10,000 per project and are offered on a competitive basis to support early activities for product development, commercialization or business planning and development.

Each seed grant requires a 1:1 match consisting of actual cash, salaries, staff time or equipment directly attributable to the proposed project. A company may only be awarded a total of $25,000 in seed grants for a specific project.

Seed grants are awarded six times each year. The application deadline for the next round of grants is June 16, 2005. Information about the MTI Seed Grant program is available at www.mainetechnology.org.

MTI was created by the Legislature in 1999 to encourage, promote, stimulate and support research and development activity leading to the commercialization of new products and services in the state’s technology-intensive industrial 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 new jobs.

See Seed Grant Awardees Below.

Advanced Technologies for Forestry and Agriculture Maine Cooking Woods LLC in Macwahoc Plantation will research laser or other high-speed sawing technology in preparation of successfully introducing Maine Biscuit Wood, an all-natural charcoal alternative, to the marketplace.

Aquaculture and Marine Technology Gulf of Maine Aquaculture LLC in Searsmont will conduct further market research for commercialization of a finfish containment system, including prototype testing and manufacturing process design.

Quahog Lobster Inc. in Harpswell will improve drying methods of Irish Moss seaweed. Irish Moss contains carageenan, a substance used in foods and pharmaceuticals.

Biotechnology

Insightful Products LLC in Scarborough has designed an innovative brace for Posterior Tibial Tendonitis (PTT) called the Step-Smart PT. The company needs to further develop the brace and to protect its intellectual property. Insightful Products LLC invents and develops effective solutions for the foot & ankle.

Maine Molecular Quality Controls Inc. in Scarborough will test a process for producing stable encapsulated RNA for use as quality controls for clinical molecular tests. Funds will support cloning and testing of a prototype.

Composite Materials Technology

Matrix Solutions Corporation in Sanford will design prototypes and conduct beta testing for unique analytical wipes utilizing a combination of innovative composite technologies and chemistries. Meeting the needs of many public safety and industrial markets, the products will focus on detection of contaminants such as acids, caustics, biologicals, and pesticides on environmental surfaces.

Wildfire Human Powered Vehicles in Biddeford will conduct manufacturing and market research to prepare a business plan for velomobile production in the State of Maine. A velomobile is human powered vehicle with a composite shell intended for daily personal transportation.

Environmental Technology

Brittlestar in Acton will seek intellectual property protection for its light transmitting building material technology. Technical Support Inc. in Scarborough will create instrumentation specifications and design for the United States Air Force Research Laboratory prototype combustion system.

Information Technology

Finasys II LLC in Orono will conduct comprehensive market research and analysis for WebBarrister, an internet-based Law Practice Management Application.

Identity Cops Inc. in Westbrook will continue trademark and patent work on its identity theft computer technology. The technology searches hundreds of electronic databases, preemptively and proactively identifying potential security breaches. It then notifies subscribers when they may be at risk and provides automatic and affirmative remedial options.

The Science Source in Waldoboro has developed a unique, illustrative demonstration tool to help health professionals explain the disease of Diabetes visually. The company will use MTI funds to conduct a market analysis of the optimal sales channels and target market segments, as well as identify potential product design improvements.

Precision Manufacturing Technology

Belleco Inc. in Saco is developing a technology that would provide operational data of oven performance to a user’s PC. The company would target restaurant chains which demand uniformity in cooked products and have in-house computing capability to use such data.

BiODE Inc. in Westbrook will demonstrate the feasibility of low-cost, high volume ceramic packaging for quartz based sensors.

Coastal Products Company in Lisbon Falls, a contract packer of private-label liquids for the pharmaceutical and consumer products industries, is developing its own line of high-end, made-in-Maine men’s shaving products. The company will use its seed grant to conduct market research and analysis.

Heli Modified Inc. in Cornish will design a proprietary prototype cruiser handlebar and submit patent filings. Heli Modified Inc. is a precision manufacturer of ergonomically correct handlebars for sport and touring motorcycles.

Henderson Engineering in Gray will use MTI funds for a patent application and to produce a working prototype of an automotive aftermarket ignition device. The device will decrease engine emissions, increase performance and fuel economy.

Maine Lighting Technologies in South Portland has a proprietary process to manufacture products utilizing solid state Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs). The company will prepare a manufacturing plan that will be included in a MTI Development Award proposal designed to progress manufacturing from bench-top to volume production and meet existing and anticipated customer demand.

O’Brien Development Company LLC in West Enfield will begin prototyping and market analysis for SutureSafe, a suture needle retention devise developed to protect surgeons and hospital staff from contaminated suture needle injury during surgery.