Our Programs

Maine Technology Institute

The Maine Technology Institute (MTI) is one element of the State's economic development strategy and contributes to the long-term development of a statewide research, development and commercialization infrastructure. Its funding is included in the Office of Innovation's budget and MTI’s President is an employee of DECD. MTI’s industry-led Board of Directors sets the Institute’s policies and makes all funding decisions. The Director of Innovation represents DECD on MTI’s Board.

As a state funded, private non-profit organization, MTI offers capital and commercialization assistance for the research and development of innovative, technology based projects that create new products and services, generating jobs in the state of Maine. MTI provides grants and loans to Maine companies to jointly fund technology development projects as well as to fund collaborative activities aiming to strengthen Maine’s high-potential technology clusters. These clusters span the state’s mature industries, such as forestry and agriculture, and emerging industries, such as environmental and energy technology and biotechnology. MTI also administers the Maine Technology Asset Fund, the State’s $53 million bond program boosting research and economic development across Maine.

Continue to the MTI website.

Maine Technology Centers

When Governor Baldacci signed “An Act to Improve Assistance for Technology-Based Entrepreneurs,” (LD 892) into law, Maine's concept of Tech Centers evolved from the traditional incubator or small business assistance model to a comprehensive and customized system of intense commercialization services for innovation-based entrepreneurs.

Almost all job creation in this country and in Maine comes from small businesses. This job creation is actually coming from only 2-3 percent of the small businesses, the high-impact entrepreneurs.

Technology entrepreneurs have demonstrably different needs from many small business owners because they need different skills to be successful. The needs of high-growth entrepreneurs must be addressed in order to build networks and strengthen the “culture of entrepreneurship.”

Entrepreneurship is the “carrier” of innovation – the test of an innovation is not its novelty or its science, but its success in the marketplace. We need to be doing all we can to make sure that the investments we have made in research and development reach the marketplace and result in strong Maine companies that create jobs for Maine citizens.

Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCOR)

Established by the National Science Foundation (NSF), EPSCoR identifies, develops, and utilizes a state's academic science and technology resources in a way that supports wealth creation and a more productive and fulfilling way of life for its citizens. EPSCoR benefits states like Maine that have traditionally received small amounts of Federal R&D funding. (more)