# Presentation: 781825

## 6th Annual NIH SBIR/STTR ConferenceState Supported Organizations & Resources Maine Technology Institutewww.mainetechnology.orgJanet Yancey-Wrona, President

- Or, How to do LOTS with A LITTLE...

## Maine Technology Institute (MTI)

**Statute:** Established 1999
-                    MRSA: 5 c407, sections 15301, etc.
**Purpose:** To encourage, promote, stimulate and support *research and development activity* *leading to the commercialization* of new products and services in the State’s seven targeted technology sectors.
- Enhance the competitive position of those sectors
- Increase the likelihood that the sectors will support clusters of industrial activity
- Create new jobs for Maine people

## MTI Accomplishes its Purpose

- _Direct Investments_ in Promising Technologies
- Two Competitive Award Programs cost-share R&D leading to commercialization.
- One Competitive Program enhances growth of technology-intensive sectors.
- Over 400 Projects approved for funding
- Over $17,000,000 committed; Matched by over $25,000,000
- _Commercialization assistance_ provides intensive training and mentoring for new product or service commercialization.
- _Technical Assistance and Outreach_ to increase awareness of, and participation in, the SBIR Award and other federal grant programs.
- Commercialization Workshops and mentoring targeted toward activities that help advance new products toward the market.

## MTI Resources

- Annual Appropriation = $5.5 million
- Statutory limitation of </= 7% used for administration.
- Broad definition of “R&D activities” eligible for funding.
- Private sector driven _volunteer_ board of directors
- Seven subsidiary volunteer boards
- Lean staff
- Strategic partnerships
- Grants (FAST) fund assistance activities

## Slide 5

## MTI Seed Grants

- 16 rounds completed through 2003.
- 855 applications received.
- 1-step volunteer panel review makes funding recommendations.
- 323 projects approved for funding, totaling over $2,500,000.
- Matched by commitments of over $3,100,000.
- Grants of up to $10,000 each awarded six times per year.
- Support very early activities for product development, business planning or development leading to commercialization.
- Eligible projects include specific small R&D projects, technical or consulting assistance, market analysis, intellectual property work, etc.

## MTI Development Awards

- Awards of up to $500,000 each awarded three times per year.
- Comprehensive R&D projects leading to the commercialization of new products and services.
- Technical peer review allows token compensation, volunteer board review for impact to Maine, volunteer business committee reviews capacity
- Many projects are 1-3 years in duration.
- Successful commercialization results in repayment to MTI for use in future award programs.
- 8 rounds completed to date:
- 253 proposals received.
- 90 projects approved for funding, totaling over $15,000,000.
- Matched by more than $20,000,000.

## BUT... MONEY alone is not enough

- Outreach, information, Technical Assistance, and seed grants for SBIR proposal preparation:
- 28 SBIR awards to 25 Maine Companies
- More than double Maine’s previous average.
- $4,600,000 of SBIR funds to Maine small businesses
- exceeding Maine’s average of $1.2M per year by 250%.
- FAST Grants totaling $250,000 from the SBA to increase likelihood of successful commercialization of new products and services.
- 10-week intensive commercialization workshops.
- 34 graduates!
- One-on-one mentoring through Tech Trackers.
- 15 graduates have gone to market!

## MTI alone is not enough...

- SB_T_DC created:
- Model from NC
- MTI cost-share guarantees technology-based business expertise and focus
- Co-located at MTI
- Result: >80% of clients = MTI clients
- Maine MEP:
- MEP serves as fiscal agent for MTI
- MEP provides ‘free’ assistance to MTI clients
- MEP receives additional federal match
- MEP-MTI provide focused training
- Market Development Center:
- Shared support of SBIR program
- MDC provides outreach to ED agenciesMDC provides bidmatch to MTI clients
- MTI receives referrals from MDC clients

## Strategic Partnerships (cont’d)

- University of Maine System
- >50% of MTI-funded companies assisted by UMaine
- Applied Technology Development Centers (Maine’s business incubators)
- Directors serve as reviewers
- Directors are ‘expert’ assistance for MTI proposal preparation
- Centers provide focal point for all service providers
- Maine Patent Program
- MTI-funded companies have ‘expedited’ review
- MTI funding for IP work contingent on patent program ‘approval’
- State and Private Capital Sources
- MTI review materials available for due diligence process, at company’s request
- MTI-funded companies receive serious look

## Conclusion

- The impact of MTI investments is just beginning
- More than 350 companies in all regions of Maine benefit from MTI funding!
- SBIR awards in Maine more than doubled!
- SBIR dollars increased over 250%!
- 98% of SBIR recipients received MTI assistance
- MTI funds are leveraged 14-fold!
- ]MTI funded companies average more than 1 patent and trademark filing per company!
- More than 50% of MTI-funded companies were assisted by UMaine System
- More than 20% of MTI-funded companies were assisted by one or more MTI partner