Nominees Selected for Innovation in San Diego Technology and Life Sciences Sectors
San Diego – CONNECT, one of the nation’s most successful regional economic development programs for high technology and life science innovators, today announced the finalists for this year’s Most Innovative New Product (MIP) Awards. The winners will be announced December 12th at the 21st Annual MIP Awards Luncheon, held at the Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines, to an audience of over 800 of San Diego’s top executives, entrepreneurs, service providers and academics.
The 2008 MIP Awards continue the tradition of showcasing San Diego-based companies with cutting-edge innovation in various arenas of technology. CONNECT added two new award categories this year to mirror new economic growth and achievements in the sectors: action and sport technologies and aerospace technology.
MIP finalist products range from industry-changing action and sport equipment to life-altering medical devices, each of which is an indicator of the thriving innovation in San Diego’s booming technology industry.
“This year’s products presented the highest level of competition this panel has seen,” said Duane Roth, chief executive officer of CONNECT. “These finalists showcase the entrepreneurial spirit that this organization strives to discover and illustrates the innovation that has made San Diego the leading technology hub that it is today.”
The MIP Award finalists were selected from approximately 100 entries representing a broad range of companies within eight categories. Three finalists are selected in each of the eight categories. The 2008 MIP Award finalists are:
Action and Sport Technologies
American Wave Machines for SurfStream
Firewire Surfboards for Direct Drive
Zoot Sports for Ultra Race Shoe
Aerospace and Security Technologie
Avaak for Vue Personal Video Network
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems for Sky Warrior Block Zero Unmanned Aircraft System
Seacoast Science for SeaPort Mini GC
Clean Technology
Hadronex for Sewer Intelligence System
Networkcar for Networkfleet 3500
Reaction Design for Energico
Hardware and General Technology
Entropic Communications for Channel Stacking Switch ICs
Gunnar Optiks for Gunnar Digital Eyewear
Semtek Corporation for Cipher Module
Life Sciences – Diagnostics and Research Tool
Histogen for BioNuesis
Invitrogen Corporation for StemPro BG01v platform hESC Kit
Silicon Kinetics for SKi Pro
Life Sciences – Medical Products
Ablation Frontiers for Catheter Ablation System
Cytori Therapeutics for Celution System
Vet-Stem for Vet-Stem Regenerative Cell for Small Animals
Software and IT
InSilicoMed for Continuity
PacketVideo for MediaFusion
Photometria for Taaz.com
Wireless Communications
Mushroom Networks for PortaBella
Pulse~LINK for CWave UWB Chipset
Staccato Communications for Ripcord
For more information about CONNECT’s MIP Awards and to register to attend please visit: www.connect.org/programs/most-innovative-products-award/join/.
About CONNECT
CONNECT is a non-profit organization dedicated to creating and sustaining the growth of innovative technology and life science businesses in San Diego. Each year CONNECT delivers more than 300 programs and services that benefit more than 2,000 CEOs and companies. CONNECT is widely regarded as the nation’s most successful regional program linking inventors and entrepreneurs with the resources they need for success. Its programs include: Springboard, Venture Round Table, Frontiers in Science and Technology, FrameWorks, CEO Strategy Forum and Connect with CONNECT; affiliate programs including The Center for Commercialization of Advanced Technology (CCAT), Tech Coast Angels (TCA), and MIT Enterprise Forum (MITEF); and its awards and recognition programs, Hall of Fame, and The Most Innovative Product (MIP) Awards. For further information, see www.connect.org.
Contacts
CONNECT – 858-964-1300
Nancy van Dillen
(858) 964-1315
nvandillen@connect.org
Gable PR – 877-251-3888
Liz Dill
(619) 284-1714
liz@gablepr.com
