Highlighting technology leaders in the state, the
Minnesota High Tech Association (MHTA) announced finalists for the
2012 Tekne Awards.
The award program, now in its 13th year, recognizes innovations from 2011 that impacted the lives of Minnesotans, through lifestyle improvement or education. Forty-four finalists were named in fifteen categories.
The MHTA noted that the state remains at the forefront of cutting-edge technological growth, and the finalists show that the state's technology future is bright indeed, in areas that range from cleantech to robotics to mobile technologies.
In the startup category, finalists are
Sophia Learning and
Sparkweave, while those competing in the software category are
Code 42 Software,
Savigent Software and
Third Wave Systems.
Finalists in other categories represent a range of companies, from large firms like
3M and
Seagate Technology to smaller businesses like
SheerWind,
Digineer, and
Agosto.
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 1st at the Minneapolis Convention Center.
Source: Margaret Anderson Kelliher, Minnesota High Tech Association
Writer: Elizabeth Millard