SALT LAKE CITY, April 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Eighteen high-tech innovations and the Utah companies that created them have been selected as finalists in the third annual Stoel Rives UTAH INNOVATION AWARDS. This statewide program is sponsored by Wasatch Digital iQ magazine, the Utah Engineering Experiment Station, the Utah Information Technology Association and the business law firm Stoel Rives LLP, with support from MountainWest Capital Network and the Utah Life Science Association.
Six winners -- one from each category -- will be announced at an awards lunch on May 19, 2005 at noon in the University of Utah Olpin Union Ballroom. A committee of 35 experts from private industry, government and higher education selected the award finalists, three in each of the program's six categories: biotechnology, chemicals, medical devices, computer software & Web services, electrical devices and mechanical devices. Votes were tallied by the accounting firm KPMG. More details about the awards program are available at http://www.stoel.com/innovation.
LIST OF FINALISTS (BY CATEGORY) Finalists, listed alphabetically within each category, are as follows:
Biotechnology finalists. AnzenBio's Bio Detector is a handheld device for on-site detection of bacteria, viruses, mold and biotoxins. The RAZOR Instrument and PathFinder Sample Pouch, created by Idaho Technology Inc., is a portable diagnostic instrument for the rapid detection of pathogens. Telomere Measurement by Quantitative PCR, created by the University of Utah, is an assay that permits the measurement of Telomere length, which correlates to mortality from age-related disease.
Chemicals finalists. CarbonX Non-Flammable Textile, created by Chapman Innovations, is used primarily in protective apparel. Nano-Structured Coatings, created by High Performance Coatings, Inc., are nanotechnology surface treatments producing disruptive thermal/corrosion/abrasion resistance and bonding performance. Carbylan(TM), a new class of biomaterials created by Sentrx Surgical Inc., promotes scar-free healing in a large variety of postsurgical applications.
Medical devices finalists. NOMAD Handheld X-Ray System, created by ARIBA X-Ray Inc., is a truly portable x-ray device for dental radiography. Proximare PFO Occluder, created by Proximare Inc., is a catheter-delivered device to close a patent foramen ovale. The Ultrasound CT(TM) Imaging System, created by TechniScan Medical Systems, is a new, non-invasive ultrasound technology for breast imaging and analysis.
Computer software & Web services finalists. NetCapture(TM) Business, created by NetDeposit, Inc., is innovative business software that scans paper checks and clears them electronically. NextPage 1.5, created by NextPage, allows people to efficiently share and collaborate on documents without changing the way they work. RappidMapper's Life Dimension camera and software is the revolution in visualization. It captures and provides real-world, photo-quality 3D views with dimensions and GPS data.
Electrical devices finalists. The Barco Blaze, created by Barco, is a portable 170-inch diagonal, full-color, outdoor LED video and graphics display solution. 9XTend RF Modem, created by MaxStream, Inc., is a long-range wireless data modem. Dickson Grating, created by Wasatch Photonics, is an advanced holographic optic that enables next-generation lasers, optical networking and biochemical sensor instrumentation.
Mechanical devices finalists. Friction Stir Welding (processing of super- hard metals) is possible through the collaboration of Brigham Young University and MegaStir Technologies, Inc. ECONOVA Water Treatment System, created by Econova Inc., is a mechanical system that treats waste water in minutes without chemicals. Utah State University's Twisteron technology replaces ailerons, reducing the drag on an airplane during flight and saving fuel.
"Taking part in this year's Innovation Awards has been an energizing experience," said UITA president and CEO Richard Nelson. "It is clear that Utah's high-tech community is vastly filled with an under-discovered population of young, driven entrepreneurs, who with the help of the UTAH INNOVATION AWARDS, have now been given an opportunity to make their innovations known."
WINNERS TO BE ANNOUNCED AT MAY 19 EVENT
The awards lunch will be the centerpiece event of the Edison Conference, a day-long event that includes presentations by industry leaders and a showcase of Utah innovations. The lunch will feature Dr. H. Tracy Hall, this year's recipient of the Experiment Station's Pathfinder Award, as guest speaker.
The cost to attend the awards lunch only is $40 per person or $320 for a table that seats eight. The registration fee for the Edison Conference is $95. The conference cost includes a May 18 pre-event reception and the May 19 day-long event, including the awards lunch. To register for the awards lunch and the Edison Conference, visit http://www.utah.edu/uees. For more information, contact Dr. Terrence Chatwin at 801-581-6348 or terrence.chatwin@utah.edu.
2005 FINALISTS Award Category and Company Name Innovation BIOTECHNOLOGY AnzenBio The Bio Detector A portable, handheld detection device that enables fast, cost-effective onsite analysis of a broad variety of bacteria, viruses, molds, and biotoxins; used to protect crops, ensure clean homes and buildings, and counter bioterrorism. Idaho The RAZOR Instrument and PathFinder Sample Pouch Technology Inc. A portable diagnostic instrument for the rapid detection of pathogens. Easy to use and able to operate on various power sources including solar, 110v/220v, and multiple battery types. Applications range from clinical diagnosis to field analysis. University of Telomere Measurement by Quantitative PCR Utah A rapid and reliable assay for measuring telomere length, which correlates to mortality from age-related disease. Shorter telomere length has been demonstrated in published reports to be associated with aging, slowing cellular repair, and multiple diseases. CHEMICALS Chapman CarbonX Non-Flammable Textile Innovations Made from inherently flame-resistant fibers, a non- flammable fabric that offers heat and flame protection at temperatures up to 2000 degrees F. It is used primarily in protective apparel for race car drivers, industrial workers, firefighters, police, soldiers, and others who need extreme protection. High Performance Nano-Structured Coatings Coatings, Inc. Nanotechnology formulated surface treatments producing superior thermal/corrosion/abrasion resistance and bonding. These coatings are used in multiple applications including aerospace thermal barriers, aerospace wing de-icing, protection from rain/particulate abrasion, high-density bonding of composite materials, and protection from acid corrosion. Sentrx Carbylan(TM), A New Class of Biomaterials Surgical Inc. A novel biomaterial that promotes scar-free healing at an accelerated rate while preventing tissue adhesion. Appropriate for use in numerous postsurgical applications including nasal sinuses, ear drum repair, abdominal adhesion prevention, bone and cartilage repair, and healing chronic wounds. MEDICAL DEVICES ARIBA X-Ray Inc. NOMAD Handheld X-Ray System A portable x-ray device for dental radiography that can be used in the dentist's chair or in the field. NOMAD enables dentists to take an x-ray in virtually any setting. A single battery charge provides several hundred x-rays. Proximare Inc. Proximare PFO Occluder A minimally invasive catheter-delivered device that closes a common heart defect known as a patent foramen ovale (PFO). Unchecked, a PFO can trigger strokes or migraines by allowing clots or chemicals to bypass the lungs' filter and enter the brain. TechniScan Ultrasound CT(TM) Imaging System Medical Systems A non-invasive, ultrasound imaging technology that produces 3-D images of the entire breast automatically and at uniform resolution, providing radiologists with valuable diagnostic information that helps them distinguish between different types of tissues within the breast. COMPUTER SOFTWARE & WEB SERVICES NetDeposit, Inc. NetCapture(TM) Business Business software that scans paper checks and clears them electronically. This allows businesses using a special scanner to deposit checks electronically by submitting images of the checks to the bank over a secure Internet connection. NextPage NextPage 1.5 A document management system that allows users to efficiently share and collaborate on documents with the tools they use every day -- email and Microsoft Office. NextPage 1.5 provides real-time awareness and notifications about the status of documents and who is currently using them, saving time, reducing risk, and eliminating "document chaos." RappidMapper, Inc. Life Dimensional Camera and Software RappidMapper's Life Dimension camera and software is the revolution in visualization. It captures and provides real-world, photo-quality 3D views with dimensions and GPS data into a scene. The software then allows you to freely navigate the scene. ELECTRICAL DEVICES Barco The Barco Blaze A portable LED video and graphics display solution with a 12' x 9' full-color, high-resolution screen that lifts up nearly 18 feet into the air. The Blaze also features 256,000 miniature clustered LEDs and boasts an IP65 water- and dust-proof rating. The unit is used at sporting events, concerts, parties, fairs, grand openings, etc. MaxStream, Inc. 9XTend RF Modem A versatile, cost-effective, long-range wireless data modem used for many applications that need to send data over long distances. The modem utilizes sophisticated encryption and operates at the highest output power, combining high levels of security and range. Wasatch Photonics Dickson Grating Advanced holographic optic diffraction grating technologies that efficiently manipulate light regardless of the light's polarization states. This light combining/splitting tool enables the development of next-generation devices for lasers, fiber optic networking, medical diagnostics, and defense applications. MECHANICAL DEVICES Brigham Young Friction Stir Welding (Processing of Hard Materials) University Friction stir welding (FSW) is a new technology that And MegaStir enables effective welding of previously unweldable Technologies, Inc. super-hard, high-melting-temperature metals such as stainless steel, armor plate, and nickel-based alloys. FSW can quickly weld aircraft aluminum, stainless vessels, large pipeline joints, and other metals. Econova Inc. ECONOVA Water Treatment System A mechanical system that treats waste water in minutes without the use of chemicals or filters. Through a three-step process -- oil/water separation; electrolysis-driven decontamination; and separation of solids -- the system processes industrial waste water and produces reusable water. Utah State Twisteron University A control surface that modifies and adjusts the air flow over aircraft wings in varying flight conditions, producing a reduction in drag without a corresponding reduction in lift. The ultimate results are improved fuel economy and increased airspeed.
Stoel Rives LLPCONTACT: Kevin Laurence, +1-801-578-6932, kblaurence@stoel.com, orMichelle Hoefnagel, +1-801-715-6633, mlhoefnagel@stoel.com, both of StoelRives LLP
Web site: http://www.utah.edu/uees
Web site: http://www.stoel.com/innovation