Looks like a good group. But is it my imagination or does Starkey Labs, Ecolab, and Vital Images make it every year?

ADVANCED MANUFACTURING AWARD
The Advanced Manufacturing Award is presented to companies that have excelled in the production of advanced materials and chemicals, machinery and equipment, electronics and components, measuring instruments, photonics, optics and lasers, computer and peripheral equipment. Company finalists are: Clearfield Inc. (Plymouth), Minnesota Thermal Science LLC (Plymouth) and Proto Labs Inc. (Maple Plain).

CLEANTECH AWARD
The Cleantech Award recognizes businesses that manufacture environmentally sound products or solutions that reduce costs, inputs, energy consumption, waste or pollution. Finalists for the award are: Ecolab Inc. (St. Paul), Silent Power Inc. (Nisswa) and VAST Enterprises LLC (Minneapolis).

GREEN AWARD
The Green Award honors businesses that practice environmental awareness/responsibility and incorporate sustainability principles into their overall business model. Finalists for the award are: Asset Recovery Corporation (St. Paul), Ecolab Inc. (St. Paul) and Minnesota Computers for Schools (Stillwater).

INNOVATION IN TEACHING (K-12) AWARD
The Innovation in Teaching Award recognizes innovative classroom use of technology in K-12 STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) education, expanding opportunities for students to be successful in technology-related careers. The finalists for the Innovation in Teaching Award are: Laurie Toll, Weaver Lake Elementary School (Maple Grove), Paul Keeney, Oak View Middle School (Andover) and Daryl Lundin, Hutchinson High School (Hutchinson).

INNOVATIVE COLLABORATION OF THE YEAR AWARD
The Innovative Collaboration of the Year Award honors a collaboration or partnership that has demonstrated leadership, dedication and excellence in delivering an innovation to Minnesota’s technology economy and/or the Minnesota community in general. The finalists for the Innovative Collaboration of the Year Award are: Bemidji State University (Bemidji), Fabcon Inc. (Savage) and Minnesota Health Information Exchange (Eagan).

IT-SOFTWARE & HARDWARE, COMMUNICATIONS AND INFRASTRUCTURE AWARD
This award will be presented to a company that has shown great success on software and hardware (Web-based software, Web 2.0, etc.), networking, communications and wireless equipment and products. Small and growing company (annual revenues under $50 million) finalists are: ID Insight Inc. (Northfield), SearchAmerica (Maple Grove) and Shavlik Technologies LLC (Roseville). Established company (annual revenues of more than $50 million) candidates are: CareerOneStop, State of Minnesota (St. Paul), Imation (Oakdale) and QLogic Corporation (Shakopee).

MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY AWARD
This award will acknowledge a company excelling in production of devices, diagnostics and equipment relating to the medical field. Small and growing company finalists are: Exsulin Corporation (Burnsville), Nonin Medical Inc. (Plymouth) and Synovis Life Technologies (St. Paul). Established company finalists are: Coloplast Corporation (Minneapolis), Starkey Laboratories Inc. (Eden Prairie) and Vital Images Inc. (Minnetonka).

TECHNOLOGY EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR AWARD
The Technology Executive of the Year Award honors an individual member of an executive team who is responsible for the advancement of technology and technology strategy within a company or organization. Finalists in the category of small and growing companies are: Phil Isaacson, Nonin Medical Inc. (Plymouth), Bill Priesmeyer, Cymbet Corporation (Elk River) and Mike Sowada, VISI Inc. (Eden Prairie). Established company finalists are: Gopal Khanna, Office of Information Technology, State of Minnesota (St. Paul), Joel Ronning, Digital River Inc. (Eden Prairie) and Bob Switz, ADC (Eden Prairie).

TECHNOLOGY SERVICES AWARD
The Technology Services Award will honor companies that succeed in innovative development and/or delivery of technology services, including consulting services, service providers and software as a service. Small and growing company finalists are: Access Genetics LLC (Eden Prairie), eBureau (St. Cloud) and Open Access Technology International Inc. (Minneapolis). Established company finalists are: Logic (Eden Prairie), Nanofabrication Center, University of Minnesota (Minneapolis) and XATA Corporation (Eden Prairie).

TECHNOLOGY USER AWARD
Finalists for the Technology User Award have shown innovative application of products or services resulting in dramatic business improvement or market advantage. Finalists are: Honeywell (Golden Valley), Inetium LLC (Bloomington) and Mortenson Construction (Minneapolis).