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Finalists Selected for Governor's Celebration
of Innovation Awards
09/28/04
TEMPE, AZ
Winners to be Announced Evening of Nov. 18, 2004; Event
of the Year to Honor Arizona's Top Technological and
Business Achievements
The Arizona Technology Council, on behalf of the
Governor's Celebration of Innovation Awards event,
announced the following companies have been chosen as
finalists by the event's selection committee of local
business and academic leaders. One company within each
category will be announced as the winner the night of
the event. The award categories and finalists for each
are as follows:
The Pioneering Innovation Award
-- AGM Container Controls Inc. http://www.agmcontainer.com
-- Calence Inc. http://www.calence.com
-- IBM http://www.ibm.com
The Innovator of the Year Award (Note: "Innovator of the
Year" distinction is comprised of four levels.)
Start-up
-- 5AM Solutions http://www.5amsolutions.com
-- Carefx Corp. http://www.carefx.com
-- Kinetic Muscles Inc. http://www.kineticmuscles.com
Small Company
-- Cyclone Commerce Inc. http://www.cyclonecommerce.com
-- Intrinsic Bioprobes Inc. http://www.intrinsicbio.com
-- Knowledge Computing Corp. http://www.knowledgecc.com
Large Company
-- Avnet Inc. http://www.avnet.com
-- General Dynamics C4 Systems http://www.gdc4s.com
-- Ventana Medical Systems Inc. http://www.ventanamedical.com
Academia
-- Center for Applied Nanobioscience, Arizona State
University
http://www.biodesign.org
-- Center for Cognitive Ubiquitous Computing, Arizona
State University
http://cubic.asu.edu/
-- Center for Single Molecule Biophysics, Arizona State
University
http://www.biodesign.org
"These awards finalists are a testament to what puts
Arizona's technology community in the forefront of
innovative thinking," said Kevin McHolland, chairman of
the Governor's Celebration of Innovation event, and a
partner with the Phoenix office of Ernst & Young. "Last
year's event was wildly successful and set a benchmark.
We expect this year to build on that success."
In its second year, the awards program is acknowledged
as the premier recognition of statewide technology
leadership in innovation. The awards dinner will be held
at the Arizona Biltmore Resort and Spa on Nov. 18. The
event begins with a reception at 5 p.m., with dinner and
ceremonies beginning at 6:30 p.m. The program will end
at 9 p.m. Tables of 10 are $1,000 for Council members
and $1,500 for nonmembers. Single seats can be purchased
at $100 for members, $150 for nonmembers. To purchase a
table or seating go to http://www.celebration-of-innovation.com.
Awards Category Descriptions
-- Pioneering Innovation
Presented to an outstanding company that has gone above
and beyond the call of duty in contributing to Arizona's
technology industry through sustained business presence,
corporate citizenship, community involvement and
business success. A company of any size or technical
discipline may be nominated. The award is limited to
commercial enterprises doing business in Arizona for
five years or more.
-- Innovator of the Year - Start-Up Company
Presented to a company or licensed team that has
achieved significant business success through innovation
in the past calendar year and meets the following
requirements: must be actively selling or developing a
commercially available product or service for less than
24 months; must be deriving revenue and/or funding; must
demonstrate innovation and potential viability; company
must be based in Arizona; innovation must be developed
in Arizona; must have a management structure of one or
more persons; and profitability is not a requirement.
-- Innovator of the Year - Small Company
Presented to a company or licensed team (no limit on the
duration of the project) that has achieved significant
business success in the past calendar year and meets the
following requirements: company must be in operation for
24 months or more; company must be generating less than
$50 million in annual revenue; company must be based in
Arizona; and innovation must be developed in Arizona.
-- Innovator of the Year - Large Company
Presented to a company or licensed team (no limit on the
duration of the project) that has achieved significant
business success through innovation in the past calendar
year and meets the following requirements: company must
be in operation for 24 months or more; company must be
generating $50 million or more in annual revenues;
company must be based in Arizona; and innovation must be
developed in Arizona.
-- Innovator of the Year - Academia
Presented to a department or office within an accredited
higher education institution that has achieved success
through innovation in the past calendar year and meets
the following requirements: has achieved success through
research and development; must demonstrate technical
innovation, scientific achievement and potential
commercial viability; institution must be based in
Arizona; open to both students and faculty; and has
contributed to economic development within Arizona
through teaching, research or other academic pursuits.
About the Governor's Celebration of Innovation
The Governor's Celebration of Innovation was established
in 2003 by combining two technology award ceremonies:
the High Tech Industry Cluster's 17-year student awards
ceremony, and the Arizona Software and Internet
Association's 10-year "Celebration of Innovation." With
the addition of the governor's support of last year's
event, the Governor's Celebration of Innovation has
become the premier technology community gathering of its
kind in Arizona. The inaugural Governor's Celebration of
Innovation took place in November 2003 and was a
colossal success with more than 1,200 in attendance.
About the Arizona Technology Council
Since its inception in 2002, the Arizona Technology
Council has stood as the largest association of
technology companies in Arizona, whose shared vision is
for the state to be recognized as a top-tier center for
technology-based businesses. The council works to carry
out this vision by driving partnerships, policies and
programs that advance the business climate for Arizona's
technology community and by representing, supporting and
advocating for member companies through initiatives,
advocacy, networking and effective communications.
The Arizona Technology Council represents 30,000-plus
employees at more than 400 of the leading technology
companies across Arizona. Represented industries include
advanced manufacturing, aerospace, biotechnology,
e-learning, environmental technology, software, Internet
applications, semiconductors and telecommunications.
Contacts
Arizona Technology Council
Kathy Sacks, 602-343-8324, ext. 107
ksacks@aztechcouncil.org |
