MHTA and MTI Will Recognize Minnesota's Top Technology Companies at the
Oct. 26 Awards Ceremony
MINNEAPOLIS, Sept. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- The Minnesota High Tech
Association (MHTA) and Minnesota Technology Inc. (MTI), in partnership with
LifeScience Alley, today announced finalists for the seventh annual Tekne
Awards, a celebration of superior technological development and leadership
in Minnesota.
The 2006 Tekne Awards finalists represent a distinguished collection of
technology companies that have positively impacted Minnesota's quality of
life and helped secure Minnesota's place as one of the most technologically
advanced regions across the globe. Awards are separated into categories
that recognize the best and brightest in innovation, development,
commercialization and management of technology in Minnesota.
"For seven years, the Tekne Awards have proved that Minnesota remains
on the forefront of technological innovation," said Kate Rubin, president
of MHTA. "Each year I am more impressed with the depth and breadth of
leadership and innovation showcased by our pool of finalists."
"Many of the 2006 Tekne Awards finalists have not only shaped the
thriving technology landscape in Minnesota, but world-wide, as well," said
Wayne A. Pletcher, Ph.D., president and CEO of MTI.
The 2006 Tekne Awards will be presented on Thursday, Oct. 26 at the
Minneapolis Convention Center, beginning with a reception and silent
auction at 4:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 6 p.m. and the awards ceremony
at 7 p.m. The keynote address will be delivered by Warren Staley, Chairman
and Chief Executive Officer of Cargill Incorporated.
To register for the 2006 Tekne Awards ceremony, visit
http://www.tekneawards.org or contact Scott Sandberg at (952) 230-4554 or
ssandberg@mhta.org.
The 2006 Tekne Award categories and finalists include:
INNOVATION AWARD
Honors a business, academic institution, teacher or business/academic
collaboration that has demonstrated leadership, dedication and excellence
in the development of an innovation in areas such as digital technology,
nanotechnology, MEMS, or medtech/biotech, genomics/ bioinformatics or other
areas of life sciences research with the potential to contribute
significantly to Minnesota's technology-based economy.
-- Emerging company finalists are E-ride Industries, Princeton; Hysitron
Inc., Eden Prairie; and Precision Inc., Minneapolis.
-- Established company finalists are Ecolab Inc., St. Paul; Imation
Corp., Oakdale; and Stratasys Inc., Eden Prairie.
-- Innovation in teaching finalists are Brad Blue, Minneapolis Public
Schools, Minneapolis; Paul Keeney, Northdale Middle School, Coon
Rapids; and Pat St. Peter, Irondale High School, New Brighton.
TECHNOLOGY COMPANY AWARD
Recognizes emerging companies (annual revenues under $50 million) and
established companies (annual revenues of $50 million+), or divisions
within established companies, that exemplify the entrepreneurial spirit and
promise continued economic growth through technology development and/or
application in the following six categories:
Advanced Manufacturing - Advanced materials and chemicals, machinery
and equipment, electronics and components, measuring instruments,
photonics, optics and lasers, computer and peripheral equipment.
-- Emerging company finalists are Alexandria Extrusion Company,
Alexandria; MOCON Inc., Minneapolis; and Winland Electronics, Mankato.
-- Established company finalists are 3M, St. Paul; General Dynamics
Advanced Information Systems, Bloomington; and Watlow, Winona.
Biotechnology - Agriculture, environmental, food science and
pharmaceuticals.
-- Emerging company finalists are BioE, St. Paul; Biothera, Eagan; and
Gel-Del Technologies, St. Paul.
-- Established company finalists are Cargill Incorporated, Minneapolis;
Ecolab Inc., St. Paul; and MGI PHARMA Inc., Bloomington.
IT-Software, Communications, and Infrastructure - Software, networking,
communications, and wireless equipment and products.
-- Emerging company finalists are iCentera Corp, Burnsville; SPS
Commerce, Minneapolis; and VisionShare Inc., Minneapolis.
-- Established company finalists are Fargo Electronics Inc., Eden
Prairie; City of Eagan Technology Working Group, Eagan; and Stellent
Inc., Eden Prairie.
Medical Technology - Devices, diagnostics and equipment.
-- Emerging company finalists are Lumen Biomedical Inc., Plymouth;
Micromedics, St. Paul; and Minnetronix, St. Paul.
-- Established company finalists are Medtronic Inc., Minneapolis; Starkey
Laboratories Inc, Eden Prairie; and Vital Images, Minnetonka.
Technology Services - Innovative use of processes, methodologies and
applications of technology; innovative design or application of existing
technology and processes.
-- Emerging company finalists are Digineer Inc., Plymouth; StoneL Corp.,
Fergus Falls; and WynEdge Software Inc., Minnetonka.
-- Established company finalists are Cargill Incorporated, Minneapolis;
MTS Systems, Eden Prairie; and Rimage, Minneapolis.
Technology User - Innovative application of products or services
resulting in dramatic business improvement or market advantage.
-- Emerging company finalists are 7 Medical Systems LLC, Minneapolis;
Cool Clean Technologies Inc., Eagan; and Reshare Corporation,
Minneapolis.
-- Established company finalists are Edina Realty Home Services, Edina;
Imation Corp., Oakdale; and Minnesota State Colleges and Universities,
St. Paul.
LEADERSHIP AWARD
The Leadership Award honors an outstanding individual who, beyond a
specific innovation or achievement, has contributed significantly to
Minnesota's technology expansion.
-- Emerging leadership finalists are Robert Juncker, chief technology
officer, Gearworks, Eagan; Brett Shockley, CEO & Chairman, Spanlink
Communications, Plymouth; and Dee Thibodeau, CEO, Charter Solutions,
Plymouth.
-- Established leadership finalists are William Hoffman, executive
director, MBBnet, Minneapolis; Richard King, senior vice president and
CTO, Thomson West, Eagan; and Michael Luker, president- Sunny Fresh
Foods, Cargill Incorporated, Minneapolis.
The 2006 Tekne Awards are made possible by the generous support of its
sponsors: Oppenheimer Wolff & Donnelly; Thomson West; 3M; ADC; Cargill;
Grant Thornton; Honeywell; Marsh; Onvoy; Padilla Speer Beardsley; The
Business Journal; Entegris; Faegre & Benson; Fish & Richardson; KPMG;
Microsoft; MSI Systems Integrators; PricewaterhouseCoopers; Stellent; and
Unisys.
Sponsors of the 2006 Tekne Silent Auction include the ADC Foundation
and Onvoy.
About Minnesota High Tech Association (MHTA)
The Minnesota High Tech Association (MHTA) accelerates the growth,
sustainability and global competitiveness of Minnesota's technology-based
economy through public policy advocacy, member collaboration and education,
and community outreach. MHTA is the only membership organization that
represents Minnesota's entire technology-based economy. MHTA members
include organizations of every size -. involved in virtually every aspect
of technology creation, production, application and education in Minnesota.
MHTA works in partnership with AeA, which represents Minnesota's technology
organizations nationally. Find out more online at http://www.mhta.org .
About MTI
Minnesota Technology, Inc. (MTI) helps drive the small to mid-size
manufacturing sector by selling greater efficiency tools, productivity and
growth solutions, and cutting edge information at competitive rates. MTI
operates as a private 501(C)3 organization, collaborating with the federal
government, to provide a public service that stimulates business and
economic development in Minnesota's manufacturing sector. MTI's staff are
competent, trained professionals with expertise in leading edge
productivity tools and growth solutions, committed to making Minnesota a
stronger player in the global manufacturing matrix.
SOURCE Minnesota High Tech Association
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Related links:
http://www.mhta.org
http://www.tekneawards.org
http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/144694.html/
CONTACT:
Peter Lindstrom, Minnesota High Tech
Association, +1-952-230-4551, or plindstrom@mhta.org ; or
Danielle Engholm, Padilla Speer Beardsley Inc., +1-612-455-1764,
or dengholm@psbpr.com
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