Finalists Named in the 2011 Idaho Innovation Awards

Finalists have been selected in the sixth annual Idaho Innovation Awards, presented by Stoel Rives LLP, Kickstand and Idaho Technology Council (ITC) and sponsored by the Idaho Business Review and Idaho National Laboratory. Winners and finalists will be recognized at a special awards presentation during the Idaho Technology Council’s second annual Hall of Fame Celebration on Wednesday, October 26, 2011 at the Boise Centre on the Grove.

Registration is available online at www.idahotechcouncil.org until Friday, October 21, 2011.

As the state’s only innovation awards program, the Idaho Innovation Awards recognize innovative accomplishments in four categories. The categories and 2011 finalists are listed below (finalists are listed in alphabetical order):

Commercialized Innovation of the Year

Cuff Repair Plate by Shoulder Options, Inc.

Recall InfoLink by Recall InfoLink, Inc.

Sports Concussion Alert System by Ambient Sensors, LLC

Early-Stage Innovation of the Year

Alzheimer Antibody by Boise State University

Nanospring Enhanced Osseointegration of Implants by University of Idaho

Potato Products with Enhanced Resistant Starch by University of Idaho

Innovative Company of the Year

BlueMesh Networks

PakSense

Innovator of the Year

Norris Krueger, Founder, Entrepreneurship Northwest

Sharon Oberleitner, VP Clinical Affairs, Behavior Imaging Solutions

Carl Thornfeldt, M.D., President, CEO, and Chief Scientific Officer, Episciences, Inc.

The nominations were judged by a Selection Committee consisting of leaders from Idaho’s business, technology and academic communities. Votes were tallied by accountants at Cooper Norman.

About the ITC “Hall of Fame” featuring the Idaho Innovation Awards

The Idaho Innovation Awards presentation will be held during the ITC’s second annual Hall of Fame Celebration on Wednesday, October 26, 2011 at the Boise Centre on the Grove. The ITC Hall of Fame Celebration recognizes innovative technology leaders who have made a significant contribution to Idaho’s technology community. This year, Jack Lemley, English Channel Tunnel chief executive and Steve Hodges, sports, energy and information technology leader will be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Lemley and Hodges join Hewlett-Packard icons Dick Hackborn and Ray Smelek in the ITC Hall of Fame.

The Idaho Innovation Awards is supported by Cooper Norman and Idaho TechConnect.

About Stoel Rives LLP: Stoel Rives is a business law firm providing counseling and litigation services throughout the United States. The firm’s 360 attorneys provide client-focused services to a wide range of clients from 11 offices in seven states. Stoel Rives is regarded as a leader in energy, natural resources, environment, litigation, corporate and intellectual property law. For more information about Stoel Rives please visit www.stoel.com.

About Kickstand: Kickstand is an entrepreneur support organization for Idaho’s innovators, in any industry, who need help from the local community in order to succeed. Kickstand provides live and virtual forums to foster a vibrant entrepreneurial community and promote business creation and growth. With the tagline “network, learn & grow,” Kickstand is a non-profit group founded in 2002 by a handful of young technology companies and like-minded service providers who believed they could achieve greater success by sharing ideas and success stories. With some 300 members and three affiliate groups around Idaho, Kickstand provides opportunities for its members to make connections, learn start-up tips, and develop as individuals and members of teams or as “intrapreueurs” inside larger companies. For more information visit www.kickstand.org.

About Idaho Technology Council: The Idaho Technology Council’s mission is to become the premier member-driven technology association dedicated to fostering the growth of technology companies in the state of Idaho, primarily in the areas of information technology, agriscience, and energy. The ITC provides a valuable forum for industry, research, educators, investors, and government throughout the state. It also advocates for creating a strong technology ecosystem and a high quality, high paid workforce. For more information visit www.idahotechcouncil.org.