The Maine Technology Institute (MTI) has granted $750,000 awards to GO Lab, Inc., in Belfast, Maine, and Biofine Developments Northeast (BDNE) in Bucksport, Maine, the winners of its Emerging Technology Challenge for Maine’s Forest Resources.

Launched in December 2018, the Challenge was a part of MTI’s collaboration with Forest Opportunity Maine (FOR/Maine) to support the development and deployment of emerging technologies in the forest resource sector. Biobased Maine vetted and evaluated proposals as an external contractor.

The two companies who won the Challenge make use of Maine’s vast forest resources and existing supply chain to manufacture value-added biobased products.

According to the press release:

The first $750,000 award was made to GO Lab, Inc. GO Lab, a building products manufacturer in Belfast, Maine, will transform the insulation market in the next 10 years. Its insulation, made from wood fiber, is renewable, recyclable, nontoxic, and performs as well, or better than, other available insulations. GO Lab’s production facility, located at the former UPM paper mill in Madison, Maine will consume 180,000 tons of softwood chips annually, create 100 jobs and generate approximately $70M in annual revenue. They will become the leader in manufacturing wood-dominant, environmentally-preferred building materials. The company will help fill the void left by the demise of paper manufacturing in Madison, and in turn, will improve the long-term viability of Maine’s rural, forest-based economy.

The second $750,000 award was made to Biofine Developments Northeast (BDNE). The funding will allow BDNE to carry out the commercial development of the first large scale bio-refinery deploying Biofine’s technology in Bucksport, Maine. This plant will enable the conversion of woody biomass to the chemical intermediate, levulinic acid allowing economic production of a completely renewable heating oil substitute. Biofine will work with Treadwell Franklin-Sewall as development consultants and the University of Maine at Orono for technical operations.

Biobased Maine congratulates GO Lab and BDNE on the well-deserved investments in their innovative companies that will introduce new products and help to diversify Maine’s forest products industry.

Investment in technologies like these will help sustain and grow the forest industry into its second golden age, and revitalize Maine communities with the creation of high-paying jobs.

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