LEWISTON — The Maine Technology Institute is bringing its Maine’s Innovation Economy showcase here for the first time Wednesday.

The event at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 17 is free and open to the public.

“We have these great companies in the state, but you don’t see them; they’re tucked away here and there,” MTI spokeswoman Deborah Cook said. “This is a chance for us to make all of this visible. We all talk about technology and innovation, but what it is?”

Displays on the Colisee floor will be set up in the seven sectors supported by MTI — areas such as aquaculture and bio-science — with three to six exhibits each, she said. Each exhibitor will be a company funded by MTI that has a commercial product.

Local exhibitors include Falcon Performance Footwear, Packgen and Pantheon Guitars.

Brief remarks are planned at 6 p.m. by Gov. Paul LePage, David Kappos, the undersecretary of commerce for intellectual property and director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and Desh Deshpande, a Boston venture capitalist and entrepreneur.

Since 2000, MTI has awarded $142 million in grants and loans to Maine companies and research institutions. Last year, it invested $14.1 million in 127 projects, Cook said.

She hopes the event will be a forum to see what other companies are doing, to network, to meet other entrepreneurs and investors and to get inspired.

“MTI funds people who just have ideas,” she said.

Though the event is free, advance registration is required. Register by calling Patti Sutter at 588-1010, emailing [email protected] or on MTI’s website.

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This story was updated at 8:46 a.m.