Technology Transfer
FIRST has a long track record of interacting with Maine companies as well as national and international partners. These activities have been supported by federal SBIR/STTR programs, the Maine Technology Institute, and industrial funding. Service agreements, confidential disclosure agreements, collaboration agreements, patent disclosures, and license agreements are coordinated through UMaine’s Department of Industrial Cooperation.
Patents
A portfolio of patents from FIRST research & development activities includes technology related to sensors, ion detectors, and microdevices. The following high-tech start-up companies have emerged from FIRST technology:
- BiODE Inc., Westbrook, ME (acquired by Vectron International)
- Environetix Technologies Corp., Orono, ME
- Mainely Sensors, Orono, ME
- Microconversion Technologies, Brookings, SD (acquired by Midwest Micro-Tek)
- Orono Spectral Solutions, Old Town, ME
- Sensor Research & Development Corp., Orono, ME
- Stillwater Scientific Instruments, Orono, ME