Highlighting the strength of the state's technology sectors, the
Minnesota High Tech Association (MHTA) announced
finalists for the 2011 Tekne Awards.
The award program, now in its 12th year, recognizes innovations from 2010 that represent the brightest in development, commercialization, and management of technology in Minnesota. Forty-two finalists were named in fourteen categories.
The MHTA noted that recent growth in Minnesota's educational and robotic technology sectors were particularly visible this year, but that all technology sectors are staying strong.
In the education category, finalists are
Capella University,
Sophia, and
Naiku--which recently won the recent
Minnesota Cup award. Finalists in other categories represent a range of companies, from large firms like
Imation Corp. and
Digital River to smaller businesses like
Xollai and
QuickCheck Health.
The awards are designed to showcase these types of companies, and draw attention to the innovative and competitive companies in the state, according to MHTA president Margaret Anderson Kelliher. They're part of the organization's larger mission to boost education and entrepreneurship along with technology development.
"We're very excited about the opportunities available to technology companies here," says Kelliher. "In general, we believe that individuals and companies in the state have more potential than they do challenges. We're proud and happy to support them in any way we can."
The Tekne Awards will be presented on November 3 at the Minneapolis Convention Center.
Source: Margaret Anderson Kelliher, Minnesota High Tech Association
Writer: Elizabeth Millard