BRUNSWICK

The Maine Technology Institute approved nine new grant applications in March, totaling $107,931 in awards to entrepreneurs from across Maine to advance new product and process development in aquaculture and marine technology, biotechnology, composite materials, forestry and agriculture, precision manufacturing, and information technology.

This round of MTI awards leveraged $591,128 of matching contributions from the award recipients.

Awards from this round include:

• Six TechStart grants totaling $28,063

• Two Business Accelerator grants totaling $74,978

• One Phase 0 KickStarter totaling $4,890

“MTI is pleased to extend these awards to Maine companies who are engaging technology to develop innovative new products and processes across six of our state’s seven targeted technology sectors,” said Brian Whitney, MTI’s president. “What is especially noteworthy about these awards is that the MTI investments are helping leverage nearly five-and-a-half times more in private matching funds. A win-win proposition for Maine.”

A summary of awards shows:

TechStart grants

• Anchorpak of Portland, award amount $4,563, match amount $4,563

• Biome Management Systems of Harpswell, award amount $3,500, match amount $3,500

• CryptoMedix of Harpswell, award amount $5,000, match amount $10,400

• InSphero, Inc. of Brunswick, award amount $5,000, match amount $6,335

• Penobscot East Resource Center of Stonington, award amount $5,000, match amount $5,807

• Revolution Research, Inc. of Orono, award amount $5,000, match amount $5,000

TechStart grants are available to entrepreneurs and companies across Maine who are seeking to develop their inventive ideas into new, innovative products or services. The next application deadline for MTI’s TechStart grant program is Tuesday, May 3.

Business Accelerator grants

• Blue Ox Malthouse of Lisbon Falls, award amount $24,998, match amount $49,535

• Eldertide of Dresden, award amount $49,980, match amount $499,991

Business Accelerator grants are available to startup/early stage companies that have been awarded MTI development loans and to companies that have recently been chosen for a federal Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer Phase I or Phase II grant and/or a Broad Agency Announcement award. The next application deadline for MTI’s Business Accelerator grant program is May 3.

Phase 0 KickStarter

• FoodHEALTH of South Portland, award amount $4,890, match amount $6,000

The Phase 0 KickStarter is a relatively new funding opportunity offered to individuals and companies seeking to submit SBIR/STTR Phase I proposals to one of the 11 federal agencies participating in the program. Phase 0 KickStarter applications are accepted on a rolling basis and at least 30 days in advance of solicitation due date.

For more information on MTI funding programs, visit www.mainetechnology.org.

What is MTI?

• MTI IS A PUBLICLY financed, private, nonprofit organization created by the Legislature in 1999 to stimulate research and development activity leading to the commercialization of new products, processes and services in the state’s seven targeted technology sectors.