Finalists Announced in 12th Annual Utah Innovation Awards

Thirty innovations and the Utah companies that created them have been named a finalist or honorable mention recipient in the 12th annual Utah Innovation Awards, presented by Stoel Rives LLP and the Utah Technology Council. Winners will be announced, and finalists and honorable mention recipients will be honored, at a special Awards Luncheon on Thursday, May 1, 2014 at the Hilton Salt Lake City Center. 

This statewide program, the first of its kind and sponsored by Webb Audio Visual Communication, Utah Business Magazine, Wells Fargo, KUER 90.1, USTAR, Grant Thornton and GoEngineer is designed to recognize innovations and the Utah companies that created them.

A committee of more than 60 experts from Utah’s private industry, government and academic communities voted on winners and finalists in each of the program’s eight categories: Clean Technology and Energy; Computer Hardware/Electrical Devices; Consumer Software; Enterprise Software, Cloud and Big Data; Life Science – Biotech; Life Science – Medical Device; Mechanical Systems/Chemicals/Manufacturing; and Outdoor and Consumer Products. The Selection Committee votes were tallied by the accounting firm and program sponsor, Grant Thornton.

In addition to identifying finalists, the Selection Committee also identified innovations worthy of honorable mention (note: there is no restriction on the number of honorable mention recipients recognized in each category). Below is a complete list of the finalists and honorable mention recipients listed alphabetically by category:

Clean Technology and Energy

• Clean Coke by Ekocoke
• HiTech Natural Gas Membrane Reactor by Ceramatec, Inc.
• NuvoH2O Water Softening System by NuvoH2O

     Honorable Mention

• Net-Zero Carbon Design for the Salt Lake City Public Safety Building by GSBS Architects

Computer Hardware / Electrical Devices

• LOGi Family of FPGA Development Boards by ValentFX, LLC
• pro-xi Workstation Integrator by Portalis
• Thermal Radar by Thermal Imaging Radar, LLC

      Honorable Mention 

• WiTricity Charging System for Consumer Electronic Devices by WiTricity

Consumer Software and Web Services

• Disney Infinity by Avalanche Software Disney Interactive
• Speakerfy by Opinti

      Honorable Mention 

• Bill Watch by Utah.Gov
• SimPayX - Enabling Smart Mobile Payments by SimPayX

Enterprise Software, Cloud and Big Data 

• Big Workflow Solution by Adaptive Computing Enterprises, Inc.
• MoneyDesktop Personal Financial Management Suite by MoneyDesktop
• SaltStack by SaltStack

      Honorable Mention 

• AtTask Enterprise Work Cloud by AtTask

Life Science - BioTech

• Injectable Discogenic Cell Therapy by DiscGenics
• LPCN 1021 by Lipocine Inc.
• Synthetic Spider Silk by USU Synthetic Biomanufacturing Institute

Life Science – Medical Device

• PowerGlide™ Midline Catheter by Bard Access Systems
• Taking the Smoke Out of Smoking by e-Nicotine Technology
• UltraBLOX by BLOXR Corporation

Mechanical Systems / Chemical / Manufacturing

• Efficient Manufacturing of Quantum Dots by Navillum Nanotechnologies, LLC
• M-Vac Forensic DNA Collection Device by M-Vac Systems, Inc.
• TRIDION™ 9 GC-MS by Torion Technologies, Inc.

      Honorable Mention 

• Inspection of Complex Bonded Composite Structures by ATK Aerospace Structures Engineering

Outdoor and Consumer Products

• EverDock and EverDock Duo by FUZ Designs
• JetForce Technology by Black Diamond Equipment
• Skydrop Sprinkler Controller by Skydrop LLC

      Honorable Mention 

• REIGN by JayBird

The May 1 awards luncheon begins at 11:00 am with honorees showcasing their innovations. The Luncheon will begin at noon. For UTC members, individual seats are $65.00, for non-UTC members, individual seats are $80.00, and a table of ten is $550. To register, visit www.utahinnovationawards.com.

The program is supported by the Association of Corporate Growth, Manufacturing Extension Partnership, MountainWest Capital Network; USTAR, Wayne Brown Institute, and the Women Technology Council. More details about the awards program are available at www.utahinnovationawards.com.

About Stoel Rives LLP

Stoel Rives is a business law firm providing counseling and litigation services to a wide range of clients throughout the United States. The firm has nearly 400 attorneys operating out of 12 offices in seven states and the District of Columbia. Stoel Rives is regarded as a leader in corporate, intellectual property, litigation, energy, natural resources, and environmental law. For more information, visit www.stoel.com.

About Utah Technology Council

The Utah Technology Council is the essential resource for Utah’s 4,000 science and technology companies seeking to develop management talent, improve Utah’s business environment and raise investment capital. Members can connect and share insights with industry peers, government and academic leaders, professional service providers and venture capital firms. Visit www.utahtechcouncil.org or call 801.568-3500.