Finalists Selected for Governor's Celebration of Innovation Awards

Business Wire, Sept 28, 2004

TEMPE, Ariz. -- 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.