GARDINER – The Maine Technology Institute board of directors recently approved 17 seed grants worth nearly $160,000 to technology companies.

Auburn Manufacturing Inc. of Mechanic Falls was awarded a grant in the composite materials technology category to develop and test super-insulating composites based on nanotechnology to maximize energy savings with reduced bulk and weight.

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. A company may only be awarded up to $25,000 in seed grants for a specific project.

Each seed grant requires a 1:1 match consisting of actual cash, salaries, staff time or equipment directly attributable to the proposed project. Seed grants are awarded six times each year. The application deadline for the next round of grants is Dec. 14, 2006. Information about seed grants is available at http://www.mainetechnology.org.