Award Categories and Descriptions
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| For the following categories, applications submitted will be evaluated and awarded separately for small & growing and established companies (or division within an established company). |
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ADVANCED MANUFACTURING
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| Advanced materials and chemicals, machinery and equipment, electronics and components, measuring instruments, photonics, optics and lasers, computer and peripheral equipment |
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IT SOFTWARE & HARDWARE, COMMUNICATIONS & INFRASTRUCTURE
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| Software & hardware (web-based software, web 2.0, etc), networking, communications and wireless equipment and products. |
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LIFE SCIENCES
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| Medical devices, diagnostics or equipment, agriculture, food science and pharmaceuticals. |
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TECHNOLOGY EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR (INDIVIDUAL)
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| Honors an individual member of an executive team who is responsible for the advancement of technology and technology strategy within a company or organization. Contributions should include leadership within the business or organization and also involvement at the civic and community level. |
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TECHNOLOGY SERVICES
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| Innovative development and/or delivery of technology services, including consulting services, service providers, software as a service, etc. |
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| Small & growing and established companies are consolidated for the following categories. A total of three finalists will be named in each category. |
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CLEANTECH
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| Businesses that manufacture environmentally-sound products or solutions that reduce costs, inputs, energy consumption, waste or pollution. Products include but are not limited to solar power, wind power, biofuels, green building supplies, personal transportation, the smart grid, and mobile applications (such as portable fuel cells) |
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GREEN COMPANY
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| Businesses that practice environmental awareness/responsibility and incorporate sustainability principles into their overall business model. |
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INNOVATIVE COLLABORATION OF THE YEAR
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| Honors any type of collaboration or partnership that has demonstrates leadership, dedication and excellence in delivering an innovation to Minnesota’s technology economy and/or the Minnesota community in general. There must be two or more parties involved with the collaboration, one party must be a for profit business. |
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TECHNOLOGY USER
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Innovative application of products or services resulting in dramatic business improvement or market advantage.
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NEXT GENERATION TECHNOLOGY LEADER
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| Honors a high potential individual, 40 years or younger, who is responsible for, or assits in, the advancement of technology and technology strategy within a company or organization. Postition title may include but is not limited to: VP of Technology, VP of IT, VP of IS, Director of Technology, Director of R&D, VP of R&D and IT Manager. Contributions should include leadership within the company and also involvement at the civic and community level. |
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| Non Profit Organizations or Educational Categories. A total of three finalists will be named in each category. |
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INNOVATION IN TEACHING (K12)
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| Recognizes innovative classroom use of technology in K12 STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math) education. The educator(s) cultivates experiences in the classroom not possible without technology, promotes the use and sharing of technology in classrooms to benefit learning, and expands opportunities for students to be successful in technology-related careers. |
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TECHNOLOGY EXCELLENCE IN HIGHER EDUCATION
OR NON PROFIT ORGANIZATION
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| Honors a non-profit organization or educational institution that's innovative use of technology has or will allow the organization to more effectively deliver on its mission and serve Minnesota and its communities. |
