2007 Technology Impact Award Finalists Announced Finalists' Technologies Enhance Wide Range of Industries
The 2007 Technology Impact Awards (TIAs) Finalists announced today by the BC Technology Industry Association (BCTIA) provide overwhelming proof of the important role that British Columbian innovation plays within traditional industry sectors and in everyday lives. This year's finalists deliver technologies to manage water quality for public and environmental health; provide solar powered lighting for safety applications; create efficiencies in industries like mining and real estate; and improve complex tasks such as clearing mines in Afghanistan using 3D visualization software. Finalists also include BC-based innovation that is creating mobile IT environments for paramedics and other first responders; preserving the nutritional content of food while extending its shelf life; improving our communications infrastructure; protecting highly critical data; and helping doctors and health care workers reduce administration time and increase the amount of patient care they can deliver.
Vancouver, BC (PRWEB) May 9, 2007
This year's Technology Impact Awards (TIAs) Finalists provide overwhelming proof of the important role that British Columbian innovation plays in our traditional industry sectors and in our everyday lives, said the BC Technology Industry Association (BCTIA) today.
The majority of the 16 finalist companies, across six award categories, concentrate on augmenting operations in industries involved in real estate, military, security and public safety, health care, environmental management, mining, and energy.
This year's finalists deliver technologies to manage water quality for public and environmental health; provide solar powered lighting for safety applications; create efficiencies in industries like mining and real estate; and improve complex tasks such as clearing mines in Afghanistan using 3D visualization software.
Finalists also include BC-based innovation that is creating mobile IT environments for paramedics and other first responders; preserving the nutritional content of food while extending its shelf life; improving our communications infrastructure; protecting highly critical data; and helping doctors and health care workers reduce administration time and increase the amount of patient care they can deliver.
"These 2007 TIA finalists illustrate how pervasive and integral technology is to all industries in helping them deliver better service, improve safety and increase efficiency," observed Rob Cruickshank, President of the BCTIA.
The TIAs are broken into three distinct groups: Technology Awards, Company Awards, and Personal Recognition Awards. This year's finalists are:
Excellence in Product Innovation
Apparent Networks Inc. (http://www. apparentnetworks. com) NGRAIN Canada Corp. (http://www. ngrain. com) Top Producer Systems Inc. (http://www. topproducer. com)
Best Application of Technology
Apparent Networks Inc. (http://www. apparentnetworks. com) In Motion Technology Inc. (http://www. inmotiontechnology. com) Wolf Medical Systems Inc. (http://www. wolfmedical. com)
Most Promising Start-Up
Aquatic Informatics Inc. (http://www. aquaticinformatics. com) Mobidia Technology Inc. (http://www. mobidia. com) Wurldtech Inc. (http://www. wurldtech. com)
Emerging Company of the Year
Digital Payment Technologies Corp. (http://www. digitalpaytech. com/) Neverblue Media Inc. (http://www. neverbluemedia. com) Tranzeo Wireless Technologies Inc. (http://www. tranzeo. com)
Company of the Year
Carmanah Technologies Corp. (http://www. carmanah. com) Gemcom Software International Inc. (http://www. gemcomsoftware. com) Vecima Networks Inc. (http://www. vecimanetworks. com)
Other awards to be presented at the Technology Impact Awards Celebration include:
Most Promising Pre-Commercial Technology: Awarded to a company with an R&D-stage innovation that represents a fundamental advancement in technology
Team of the Year: Awarded to a non-executive team who have made a significant contribution to the overall success of their organization during the past year
Leadership in Social Responsibility: Awarded for deployment of socially and/or environmentally responsible business practices or projects
Person of the Year Awarded to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the technology industry during the year
Winners will be announced on June 6th at the Technology Impact Awards Celebration, at the Hyatt Regency Vancouver, where more than 800 celebrants will extend well-deserved recognition and congratulations to the leaders who are helping to build and drive British Columbia's economy.
About the BCTIA
BC Technology Industry Association (BCTIA) is a not-for-profit, member-funded organization that represents start-ups to established technology companies, across the province. Incorporated in 1993, the BCTIA has served the province's technology industry for over a decade and today is recognized locally, provincially and nationally as the voice of BC's technology industry.
As the voice of BC's technology industry, BCTIA is committed to the ongoing growth, sustainability and prosperity of BC's economy and the technology industry that serves it. The Association delivers opportunities for members to connect, learn and grow their businesses in BC. For more information visit http://www. bctia. org (http://www. bctia. org).
For more information, please contact:
Catherine Ducharme
604-813-6104
BACKGROUNDER - 2007 Technology Impact Awards
The Technology Impact Awards (TIAs) is the premier awards program devoted to promoting and celebrating innovation and high-tech excellence in the province of British Columbia.
Founded in 1994 by the BC Technology Industries Association (BCTIA), the Technology Impact Awards have gained the reputation as a mark of distinction and a celebration of outstanding leadership, innovation, and technical excellence.
The awards are divided into three distinct categories:
1. Technology Awards
2. Company Awards
3. Personal Recognition Awards
Past technology and company award winners have included globally recognized companies such as Kodak (Creo), MDA, Business Objects, and emerging gems with pioneering new technologies such as TIR Systems, Paradigm Environmental, and Cray Canada. Winners and Honourees of the Personal Recognition Awards have included Dr. Donald Rix, Amos Michelson, Morgan Sturdy, and Ralph Turfus.
Awards Process
The awards are judged by a panel of twelve individuals who are recognized as experts and leaders in the technology sector. Detailed submissions are provided by interested companies and the judges follow a rigorous process to determine the winners and finalists.
The awards are open to all technology companies within the Province of British Columbia regardless of technology sector or geography. 2006 finalists include companies involved in many diverse technologies, encompassing fuel cells and alternative energy, IP telephony, life sciences, and environmental technologies, as well as the traditional information and communications technology sector. This year submissions were also received from companies on Vancouver Island and in the Okanagan.
Many of the past winners and finalists are companies that have commercialized technologies originating from various educational institutions across the province. The success of these companies illustrates the important role that pure research and technology transfer efforts play in the success of the BC technology industry.
TIA Awards and Award Criteria
Best Application of Technology
This award acknowledges an organization that has utilized technology to enhance and improve its productivity, business processes, operations, sales, marketing, supply chain management, customer service, communications, competitiveness, or business relationships.
Excellence in Product Innovation This award acknowledges a superior innovation or discovery in an advanced technology. The innovation should demonstrate an alternative solution or a next-stage development in technology, with an eye toward commercialization.
Most-Promising Pre-Commercial Technology
This award acknowledges a pre-commercial innovation in the R&D stage of development that represents advancement in technology and has the potential to commercialize within five years.
Most Promising Start-up
This award acknowledges an early-stage technology company (less than three years old) with commercially available products that demonstrates significant potential, creativity, and a promising future.
Emerging Company of the Year
This award acknowledges an emerging company (over three years old) that demonstrates outstanding performance as a technology enterprise, has growing revenues, is on track according to its business plan, and has the potential to become a market leader.
Team of the Year
This award acknowledges a team of individuals, working at a non-executive level, who have made a significant contribution to the overall success of their organization during the past year. The team's achievements must be measurable and tangible and are not necessarily limited to the development or delivery of technology.
Leadership in Social Responsibility
This award acknowledges a company that has:
achieved an exceptional standard of performance in its overall approach to corporate social and/or environmental responsibility, or deployed an innovative project, process, or business practice that sets a new standard for social responsibility in the technology sector.
Person of the Year
This award is presented to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the technology industry during the past year. Criteria for this award include contribution to the technology industry, reputation, leadership and vision, demonstration of exemplary skills, mentorship, career success, execution style, and international activities.
Company of the Year
The most prestigious of the corporate awards, this award acknowledges a company's supremacy in the technology industry. Winners of this award must show superior business development and generate revenue in excess of $20 million.
For more information, please contact:
Catherine Ducharme
For BCTIA
604-813-6104
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