Tekne Award winners announced

The Minnesota High Tech Association announced the winners of its 2010 Tekne Awards, given to companies, organization and leaders for their achievements in innovative technology.

The awards were given across 12 different categories divided by small and growing businesses (annual revenues under $50 million) and established businesses (annual revenues $50 million or greater).

Below are a list of winners.

Advanced Manufacturing Award: 3M Co. and Hysitron Inc., a supplier of equipment that measures mechanical properties.

Cleantech Award: Tennant Co.

Life Science Award: American Medical Systems is an established med-tech company that creates products to treat pelvic health conditions. CoreSpine Technologies, LLC sells electromechanical instruments to help spine surgeons with soft tissue and cartilage removal. CoreSpine is a small and growing business.

IT-Software & Hardware, Communications and Infrastructure Award: Vital Images Inc. is an established company that creates software for physicians and health specialists. Global Traffic Technologies, is a small and growing company that sells a product that changes signal lights for emergency vehicles.

Green Award: Asset Recovery Corp.

Innovation in Teaching (K-12) award: Scot Hovan, engineering coordinator for the Mahtomedi school district. Hovan helped create the Mahtomedi Engineering Leadership Program.

Innovative Collaboration of the Year Award: Genesys Works trained low-income youth and placed them in IT departments at comapnies in the Twin Cities area.

Next Generation Technology Leader: Ralph Awad, director of data center operations for VISI Inc. Awad was instrumental in the launching and developing ReliaCloud, VISI's cloud computing product line.

Technology Excellence in Higher Education or Non-Profit Organization: Minnesota Planetarium Society