Congratulations 2006 Tekne Finalists!

THE 2006 TEKNE FINALISTS ARE...
Awards are given to an emerging company (annual revenues under $50 million) and an established company (annual revenues over $50 million).

INNOVATION - Honors a business, academic institution, teacher or business/academic collaboration that has demonstrated leadership, dedication and excellence in the development of an innovation in areas such as digital technology, nanotechnology, MEMS, or medtech/biotech, genomics/ bioinformatics or other areas of life sciences research with the potential to contribute significantly to Minnesota’s technology-based economy.

• Emerging company finalists are E-ride Industries, Princeton; Hysitron Inc., Eden Prairie; and Precision Inc., Minneapolis.
• Established company finalists are Ecolab Inc., St. Paul; Imation Corp., Oakdale; and Stratasys Inc., Eden Prairie.

INNOVATION IN TEACHING - recognizes excellence in education by creating exciting learning opportunities for students through the innovative use of technology. The educator 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.

• Innovation in teaching finalists are Brad Blue, Minneapolis Public Schools, Minneapolis; Paul Keeney, Northdale Middle School, Coon Rapids; and Pat St. Peter, Irondale High School, New Brighton.

ADVANCED MANUFACTURING – Advanced materials and chemicals, machinery and equipment, electronics and components, measuring instruments, photonics, optics and lasers, and computer and peripheral equipment.

• Emerging company finalists are Alexandria Extrusion Company, Alexandria; MOCON Inc., Minneapolis; and Winland Electronics, Mankato.
• Established company finalists are 3M, St. Paul; General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems, Bloomington; and Watlow, Winona.

BIOTECHNOLOGY – Agriculture, environmental, food science and pharmaceuticals.

• Emerging company finalists are BioE, St. Paul; Biothera, Eagan; and Gel-Del Technologies, St. Paul.
• Established company finalists are Cargill Incorporated, Minneapolis; Ecolab Inc., St. Paul; and MGI PHARMA Inc., Bloomington.

IT-SOFTWARE, COMMUNICATIONS, and INFRASTRUCTURE – Software, networking, communications, and wireless equipment and products.

• Emerging company finalists are iCentera Corp, Burnsville; SPS Commerce, Minneapolis; and VisionShare Inc., Minneapolis.
• Established company finalists are Fargo Electronics Inc., Eden Prairie; City of Eagan Technology Working Group, Eagan; and Stellent Inc., Eden Prairie.

MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY – Devices, diagnostics and equipment.

• Emerging company finalists are Lumen Biomedical Inc., Plymouth; Micromedics, St. Paul; and Minnetronix, St. Paul.
• Established company finalists are Medtronic Inc., Minneapolis; Starkey Laboratories Inc, Eden Prairie; and Vital Images, Minnetonka.

TECHNOLOGY SERVICES – Innovative use of processes, methodologies and applications of technology; innovative design or application of existing technology and processes.

• Emerging company finalists are Digineer Inc., Plymouth; StoneL Corp., Fergus Falls; and WynEdge Software Inc., Minnetonka.
• Established company finalists are Cargill Incorporated, Minneapolis; MTS Systems, Eden Prairie; and Rimage, Minneapolis.

TECHNOLOGY USER - Innovative application of products or services resulting in dramatic business improvement or market advantage.

• Emerging company finalists are 7 Medical Systems LLC, Minneapolis; Cool Clean Technologies Inc., Eagan; and Reshare Corporation, Minneapolis.
• Established company finalists are Edina Realty Home Services, Edina; Imation Corp., Oakdale; and Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, St. Paul.

LEADERSHIP - Honors an outstanding individual who, beyond a specific innovation or achievement, has contributed significantly to Minnesota’s technology expansion.

• Emerging leadership finalists are Robert Juncker, chief technology officer, Gearworks, Eagan; Brett Shockley, CEO & Chairman, Spanlink Communications, Plymouth; and Dee Thibodeau, CEO, Charter Solutions, Plymouth.
• Established leadership finalists are William Hoffman, executive director, MBBnet, Minneapolis; Richard King, senior vice president and CTO, Thomson West, Eagan; and Michael Luker, president- Sunny Fresh Foods, Cargill Incorporated, Minneapolis.