UC San Diego CONNECT Announces Most Innovative New Product -MIP- Award Winners

Business Wire, Dec 10, 2003

Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers/High-Tech Writers

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 10, 2003

San Diego Technology and Life Science Companies Continue to

Demonstrate Creative Applications and Product Development

UCSD CONNECT announced the winners for the 16th annual CONNECT Most Innovative New Product (MIP) Awards today, reinforcing the region's reputation for supporting emerging technologies and encouraging creative product development. The six winners were chosen from a field of 19 finalists by a distinguished panel of judges. The categories included: hardware, software, telecommunications, life sciences, general technology, and biotechnology research and development, recognizing the important discoveries that are occurring in San Diego's biotech/life sciences community.

The 2003 MIP Award winners are:

Hardware:

Tarari Inc. -- Anti-Virus Content Processor -- scans for viruses at wire speed and accelerates the complex algorithms used by leading anti-virus applications to significantly increase performance and provide high data throughput, thereby effectively eliminating the performance penalty traditionally associated with protecting data in networks and on servers.

Software:

Preventsys Inc.. -- Network Audit and Policy Assurance System -- designed to automatically and frequently audit network security with regard to codified enterprise security policies, allowing the organization to "close the books" on security on a regular basis.

Telecommunications:

Zyray Wireless -- SPINNERchip -- an add-on WCDMA baseband processor that enables cellular handset manufacturers to upgrade existing GSM/GPRS solutions with WCDMA capability in a low cost and low risk manner.

Life Science:

INNERCOOL therapies -- The Celsius Control(TM) System -- an endovascular approach to the use of mild hypothermia (32-34 degree C) in the setting of ischemic injury.

General Technology:

Palomar Technologies -- Model 6500 Precision Eutectic Die Bonder -- an automated assembly machine that precisely picks, places and attaches tiny and fragile electronic and photonic components and assembles complex devices such as telecom source lasers, RF-MEMS switches and high performance consumer products.

Biotechnology R&D:

Maxim Pharmaceuticals -- Ceplene -- a breakthrough, first-in-class drug which is based on the naturally occurring molecule histamine, with potential to change the practice of medicine in treatments using the immune system to fight diseases such as cancer and liver disease, including Hepatitis.

The winners were announced at the MIP Awards Luncheon held today at the Sheraton Harbor Island Hotel.

In addition, The Gray Cary Award for Technology Innovation was awarded this year to Marco Thompson, founder and CTO of Wind River Services and chairman of the San Diego Telecom Council. This award is given to the individual(s) in San Diego who, through business activities and community involvement, have encouraged innovation and diversity of thought, supporting the advancement of San Diego entrepreneurs.

"The caliber of companies competing this year is a testament to the innovation that continues to come out of the San Diego technology and life science communities. The MIP awards is a great way to recognize and celebrate the technological and commercial successes of these companies," said Greg Horowitt, acting director of CONNECT.

Since 1988, the CONNECT MIP Awards program has served as a benchmark for predicting the region's most successful emerging technologies. From early stage biotechnology companies to the first products generated by the region's telecommunications boom, the awards program has been an indicator of the industries and technologies that have fueled the San Diego economy.

Winners were selected based on their ability to demonstrate the technology's innovation, technological advancement and its potential for commercial success. The distinguished judges for this year's awards included:

   Dr. Abi Barrow, managing director, von Liebig Center, UCSD
   Howard Birndorf, chairman and CEO, Nanogen
   June Chocheles, Corporate VP, Advanced Technology Programs, SAIC
   Hank Cunningham, director, Community and Economic Development,
City of San Diego
   Richard Doutre Jones, vice president and general manager, Bay City
Television
   Dr. Sanford Ehrlich, executive director, SDSU Entrepreneurial
Management Center
   Charles Gaylord, former chairman, Chipsoft
   Guy Iannuzzi, president, Mentus
   Lou Kelly, president, Lockheed Martin Orincon Technologies
   Robert Kibble, managing partner, Mission Ventures
   Julie Meier Wright, president & CEO, San Diego Regional EDC
   Ken Olson, former CEO, Proxima
   Dr. Alan Paau, assistant vice chancellor, Technology Transfer and
Intellectual Property Services, UCSD
   Dr. Robert Sullivan, dean, UCSD School of Management
   Cub Parker, Tech Coast Angels
   Ted Roth, managing director, Investment Banking, Roth Capital
Partners
   Duane Roth, chairman & CEO, Alliance Pharmaceutical
   Dr. Joel Martin, member, Forward Ventures
   Marco Thompson, chairman, San Diego Telecom Council
   Dr. Mary L. Walshok, associate vice chancellor, UCSD