GARDINER – The Maine Technology Institute will present Opportunities to Improve Human Health, a one-day conference Oct. 13 at the Sheraton Hotel in South Portland.

Entrepreneurs, small business owners and researchers can meet one-on-one with a federal program coordinator to learn more about the financing available through the National Institutes of Health.

Kathleen Shino, the NIH Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer program coordinator, will provide an overview of the $640 million NIH budget for innovative healthcare solutions.

Shino will also meet individually with Maine entrepreneurs, researchers and small businesses owners about potential fits to the program.

SBIR/STTR is the largest source of early-stage technology financing in the United States. These federal programs award grants to small businesses pursuing scientific excellence and technological innovation.

The conference will take place from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The cost for the conference is $20 and includes breakfast, lunch and refreshments.

For more information or to register contact Simon Varney, MTI external program manager, at 582-4790, ext. 6, or [email protected].