Innovation Awards seeks nominees in 7 categories

Nominations are being accepted for the fourth annual Stoel Rives Utah Innovation Awards.

The program recognizes Utah's best high-tech innovations and the companies that created them. Entry forms are due Feb. 17 and can be downloaded from www.stoel.com/innovation.

The 2006 awards will recognize top innovations in seven categories: biotechnology/pharmaceuticals, chemicals/materials science, medical devices, mechanical devices, computer hardware/electrical devices and computer software. The final category is separated into two sub-categories: scientific, educational and consumer applications, and Internet-focused and enterprise applications.

Two finalists and one winner are selected from each category. The entries are judged by a committee composed of more than 60 leaders from private industry, government and higher education, many of whom are experts in the seven fields of invention represented.

Winners will be announced at an awards lunch at noon May 18 in the University of Utah Olpin Ballroom. The lunch will be held in connection with the Edison Conference, a networking and educational event for Utah inventors and entrepreneurs.

The awards program is sponsored by Wasatch Digital iQ magazine, the Utah Engineering Experiment Station at the University of Utah and the Utah Information Technology Association, with support from the MountainWest Capital Network, the Utah Life Science Association, the Utah Manufacturers Association and the Utah Manufacturing Extension Partnership.