Twenty-one technology innovations and the Utah companies that created them have been named as finalists in the fourth annual Stoel Rives Utah Innovation Awards.

Three companies were named as finalists in each of seven categories. Winners in each category will be announced May 17.

Finalists are:

• Biotechnology — Cationic Steroid Antibiotics, created by Brigham Young University; PRLX 93936 for the treatment of cancer, created by Prolexys Pharmaceuticals Inc.; Novel Gadolinium III agents for MRI imaging (GDCC), created by the University of Utah.
• Chemicals/materials science — BESST Bridgeless Electric Super Seismic Technology, created by Dyno Nobel Inc.; FeGa alloys with large low field magnetostriction, a collaboration between Magnetic Materials Laboratory, the state of Utah Center of Excellence in Magnetic Sensor and Actuator Materials, and the U.; Nano-Structured Coating, created by nCoat Inc.
• Medical devices — PowerPICC Catheter, created by Bard Access Systems; Advanced Tumor Imaging System, created by Vestan Inc.; Implanted Blood Pumps using MagLev Technology, created by WorldHeart.
Story continues below
• Computer software (scientific, educational and consumer) — GoBinder, created by Agilix Labs; Mozy, created by Berkeley Data Systems; LukWerks Digital Video Surveillance System, created by WiLife.
• Computer software (Internet-focused and enterprise) — Avinti iSolation Server, created by Avinti Inc.; Cogito Knowledge Center, created by Cogito Technologies Inc.; ProPay USA Inc., created by ProPay USA Inc.
• Computer hardware/electrical devices — Active Noise Cancellation for Global Attenuation, created by BYU; NOxTrac NOx Sensor, created by EmiSense Inc.; Rover III, created by L-3 Communications and Communication Systems West.
• Mechanical devices — Bulk Explosive Delivery System, created by Dyno Nobel Inc.; AquaTrack, created by Willowstick Technologies; Quad Zipper, created by Z Gear Inc.

A committee of nearly 70 experts from private industry, government and higher education picked the finalists. PricewaterhouseCoopers tallied the votes.

The awards luncheon May 17 will begin at noon at the Sheraton City Centre. It is the main event of the Edison Showcase, a daylong event that includes presentations by industry leaders and a showcase of Utah innovations.

The awards program is sponsored by Wasatch Digital iQ magazine, the Utah Engineering Experiment Station at the U., the Utah Technology Council and the Wayne Brown Institute.

"The Innovation Awards are important to Utah because it demonstrates to outside investors the breadth, depth and quality of innovative thinking our state possesses," Brad Bertoch, Wayne Brown Institute president, said in a prepared statement. "Technology investors invest only in the best and brightest, and the Innovation Awards demonstrates to the investment community Utah's innovative prowess."

The awards lunch costs $40 per person or $320 for a table that seats eight. The registration fee for the Edison Showcase (including the awards lunch) is $95. Registration can be completed at www.utah.edu/uees. Details about the event are available by contacting Terrence Chatwin at 801-581-6348 or terrence.chatwin@utah.edu. Details about the awards program are available at www.stoel.com/innovation.