The Maine Science and Technology Foundation announced its Challenge Grant and Marine Technology awards Monday. The amount of the 20 awards — $2.5 million total — is small by world-class research and development standards, but the very existence of the money says a lot about the new commitment by voters and lawmakers to rebuild the state’s aging economy.

The MSTF funds, plus another $1 million still to be awarded, comes from the $20-million bond issue enthusiastically approved by voters last November, back when Maine ranked a dismal 49th among the states in R&D investment. That bond, plus the $23 million R&D appropriation made by the Legislature this spring, moves Maine up only few places, but at least moving in the right direction.

The fields of research covered in the nine Challenge grants are an intriguing combination of cutting edge — biotechnology, molecular and cellular technology — and established Maine businesses, such as aquaculture, agriculture and forest products, in need of an R&D boost. The 20 Marine Technology awards truly cover the waterfront, from DNA sequencing to shellfish hatcheries to large-scale monitoring of the Gulf of Maine. All grants are for equipment and facilities, not salaries. The goal, after all, is to increase Maine’s research and development capacity, its scientific and innovative infrastructure, not to underwrite existing jobs.

The remaining $1 million in marine grants, to be awarded in a second round next spring, was withheld because many applicants had exciting proposals but unconvincing applications. Rather than turn these projects away, MSTF wisely decided to work with the authors on producing better grant proposals, in addition, of course, to opening the competition to new entrants. The stakes are huge — not a few million in state dollars, but billions in federal and private foundation research grants. Maine innovators must improve their “grantsmanship” skills if they are to be competitive.

Maine voters took a significant leap of faith last fall in backing the bond. Lawmakers followed by putting R&D funding where in belongs, in the regular budget instead of the voting booth. Now, voters and lawmakers must be patient, accept the inevitable failures and, in so doing, ensure the successes that are also inevitable. These grants aren’t just about buying lab equipment; they’re a small yet significant sign that Maine is willing to invest in its own future.