INNOVATION AWARD, which 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, micro electro-mechanical systems (MEMS), medtech or biotech, genomics or bioinformatics, or other areas of life sciences research with the potential to contribute significantly to Minnesota’s technology industry and economy.

• Emerging company recipient is Eden Prairie-based Hysitron. Hysitron designed the Pico Indenter™, a next generation nanotester instrument that will allow material scientists and researchers to observe materials at the nano scale to further unlock the mysteries of our world.
• Established company recipient is Oakdale-based Imation Corp. Imation Corp. developed Ulysses™ technology, the world’s first hard disk integrated into a standard tape cartridge form that can be used in any tape library environment, providing users with a low-cost and high-speed solution for data storage.

Innovation in Education recipient is Brad Blue, District Program Facilitator of GISE, Minneapolis Public Schools. Blue developed Girls in Engineering, Mathematics and Science (GEMS), an engineering program that offers young women in his school district the opportunity to excel in small technology-focused learning communities. Due to the success of the program, which attracts over 325 young women each year, a counterpart to the program, Guys in Science and Engineering (GISE), is currently being implemented by Minneapolis Public Schools.


TECHNOLOGY COMPANY AWARDS, which recognize companies or divisions within established companies that exemplify entrepreneurial spirit and promise continued economic growth through technology development or application in one of six categories:

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 recipient is Minneapolis-based MOCON. MOCON creates products that detect, measure and analyze vapors and gases in a wide range of industries. MOCON serves an international customer base, which spans 60 countries.
• Established company recipient is 3M of St. Paul. 3M has developed 3M™ Diamond Grade™ DG3 Reflective Sheeting, new reflective sheeting for traffic signage that provides optimum visibility of traffic signs in all roadway environments and conditions.

Biotechnology – Agriculture, environmental, food science and pharmaceuticals.

• Emerging company recipient is BioE of St. Paul. BioE was the first company in the world to commercialize stem cells from postpartum umbilical cord blood. Nearly 60 academic research institutions, corporate laboratories and pharmaceutical organizations use BioE’s Multi-Lineage Progenitor Cells™ for stem cell research.
• Established company recipient is Bloomington-based MGI PHARMA. MGI Pharma developed Dacogen™ (decitabine) Injection, an innovative new product that may offer hope to tens of thousands of patients diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndromes each year.

IT-Software, Communications and Infrastructure – Software, networking, communications, and wireless equipment and products.

• Emerging company recipient is Minneapolis-based VisionShare.
  VisionShare’s software provides a simplified communication method enabling healthcare providers to automate regular data exchanges and eliminate expensive leased lines and dial-up connections, as a means of lowering healthcare costs.
• Established company recipient is Eden Prairie-based Stellent. A global provider of content management software solutions, Stellent developed Site Studio™ to enable customers to easily and economically manage from tens to thousands of corporate Web sites.

Medical Technology – Devices, diagnostics and equipment.

• Emerging company recipient is Lumen Biomedical of Plymouth. Lumen Biomedical developed FiberNet®, an advanced embolic protection device (EDP) that traps small particles and conforms to eccentrically shaped vessels that current devices are unable to treat.
• Established company recipient is Medtronic of Minneapolis. Medtronic developed Chronicle® ICD, a first-of-its-kind implantable heart failure device that can transmit a patients’ information from their home to their physicians via a standard phone line.

Technology Services – Finding innovative solutions for a client’s use of technology.

• Emerging company recipient is StoneL of Fergus Falls. StoneL develops intelligent instruments and communication networking systems to enable process users to reduce plant installation costs and improve operator performance.
• Established company recipient is Eden Prairie-based MTS Systems Corporation.
  MTS Systems developed the Bionix Spine Wear Simulator to enable medical device manufacturers to accurately perform simulations on lumbar and cervical spinal disc implants for improved product development.

Technology User – Innovative application of products or services resulting in dramatic business improvement or market advantage.

• Emerging company recipient is Cool Clean Technologies of Eagan. Cool Clean Technologies has developed CO2-based products and technologies to meet the needs of precision cleaning and cooling markets. CO2 proves economically superior to cleaning methods currently used in high-tech manufacturing and assembly.
• Established company recipient is St. Paul-based Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU). Comprised of 32 state colleges and universities, MnSCU developed MnOnline to provide online learning and support for students and faculty. In addition, MnOnline also provides customized training for Minnesota’s business community to help the regional workforce remain educated and competitive.

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

• Emerging company recipient is Brett Shockley, CEO of Plymouth-based Spanlink Communications. Shockley was instrumental in repositioning Spanlink around a VoIP platform, enabling the company to become Cisco’s leading VoIP product/solution provider. This year, Shockley helped Spanlink reach the milestones of 1,000 VoIP installations and 300,000 desktop installations.
• Established company recipient is Michael Luker, president of Minneapolis-based Sunny Fresh Foods, A Cargill Foods Company. In addition to doubling Sunny Fresh Food’s revenues and employee base, Luker has used the “open door” management policy to increase goal awareness and individual worth among employees.