CARIBOU, Maine — Aroostook companies interested in growing and commercializing their technologies are invited to attend an upcoming workshop to learn more about the funding and resources available to them to bring technologies to market.
Maine Technology Institute (MTI) is holding the session, held in partnership with the Northern Maine Development Commission (NMDC) and Maine PTAC, scheduled for Friday, Oct. 6 from 10 a.m. to noon at NMDC in Caribou.
The workshop will include information on funding and resources through MTI’s Tech Start grants of up to $5,000 that can be used to conduct market research, develop a business plan and file for patent protections, as well as seed grants of up to $25,000 that can be used to develop a prototype, demonstrate proof of concept and conduct field trials.
In a new initiative announced last month, MTI is responsible for soliciting proposals from Maine organizations looking to make investments in R&D equipment, infrastructure and technology upgrades to drive innovation in Maine.
Martha Bentley, director of innovation infrastructure for MTI, will be on hand to provide information and answer questions.
Bentley has worked with MTI in a variety of capacities since 2002, including managing the Cluster Initiative Program and the Maine Technology Asset Fund Program, as well as Maine Accelerates Growth. She joined MTI in 2016 and coordinates MTI’s funding programs and partnerships that support the innovation and entrepreneurial environment in Maine.
“Northern Maine Development Commission has a particular interest in providing our business community with access to programs and services that could have meaningful value to a company’s bottom line and this workshop certainly meets that objective,” said Robert Clark, NMDC executive director.
While in Aroostook County, Bentley is also looking for companies that want to meet individually to discuss potential projects.
For more information and to register for the workshop, contact Dana Delano at NMDC at 521-1713, or by email at ddelano@nmdc.org. Reservations are strongly encouraged, but walk-ins are welcome, space permitting.
MTI is an industry-led, publicly-funded, nonprofit corporation that offers early-stage capital and commercialization assistance. For more information, visit https://www.mainetechnology.org.
