GARDINER – A Mexico man and a Rumford company were among 15 award recipients from the Maine Technology Institute’s seed grant program. The recent awards being the total to 82 funded in 2004.

Gerald E. Drinkuth of Mexico was given award to help develop a rapid-response valve actuator for use in high-speed printing. The actuator uses a magnetostrictive alloy for its motive force.

Maine BioProducts LLC of Rumford received seed grant funds to conduct an in-depth analysis of the market for levulinic acid and its derivatives. Maine BioProducts aims to build a high-volume bio-refinery in western Maine.

MTI seed grants range from $1,000 to $10,000 per project and are offered on a competitive basis to support early activities for product development, commercialization or business planning and development. Each grant requires a one-for-one match of cash, salaries, staff time or equipment directly attributable to the proposed project.