GARDINER – The Maine Technology Institute board of directors approved seed grants to technology companies across Maine. More than $197,000 was awarded, leveraging more than $300,000 from other sources. Company locations range from York to Deer Isle.

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 Oct. 19. Information about seed grants is available at http://www.mainetechnology.org./

Area recipients include:

• Roy Rike, Brunswick, to construct the prototype of an optical device to control the replication and transcription of DNA; and

• D2 In-Line Solutions LLC in Gray to conduct market research and commercialization planning to quantify and qualify business opportunities for the application of metal films to composite materials, prior to investing in the expansion of manufacturing operation.