MIRTA accelerator projects to be showcased June 14 at Foster Center for Innovation

Four faculty-led research projects being developed for commercialization will be showcased by the fifth cohort of University of Maine MIRTA accelerator teams from 5–7 p.m. June 14 at UMaine’s Foster Center for Innovation.

The participating teams that will pitch their projects and provide updates on their plans for commercialization:

  • Future Fish Tags: A tag dart designed for aquatic research that improves animal welfare, results in 100% tag retention, and promotes ingrowth and vascularization within the animal.
  • Oyster Pod A 3D-printed aquaculture tank insert made from forest product feedstocks and bioplastic that helps maximize oyster growth.
  • WAVED: Computer-aided detection (CAD) technology that uses a patient’s mammographic history and clinical data to identify physical markers that help analyze risk for the development of breast cancer.
  • Wheelchair Odyssey: Immersive software to simulate wheelchair navigation in inaccessible, real-world settings to deepen understanding of wheelchair use and increase accessibility and inclusion.

MIRTA is designed to advance university research projects along the path from discovery to becoming commercial products with public benefit. With support from the University of Maine System Research Reinvestment Fund and the Maine Technology Institute, four teams of faculty, staff and students have completed an intensive three-month program to accelerate the development of their research. Over the course of the program, guided by Foster Center staff and external advisers, teams engaged in customer discovery, market analysis, prototype development and technology evaluation to map strategies for bringing their research to market.