NorTech announces Innovation Award winners
By Chuck Soder, Crain's Cleveland Business
11-13-2007
Biomedical and engineering-focused technologies dominated this year's
NorTech Innovation Awards.
NorTech, which promotes technology-based economic development in
Northeast Ohio, gave Innovation Awards to six companies and a group
affiliated with Case Western Reserve University during the 2007 NorTech Summit, held today at LaCentre in Westlake.
The award winners have technologies ranging from the diagnosis of spine
problems to a vehicle that can drive itself. Last year many of the award
winners were in the information technology sector, said NorTech
president Dorothy Baunach.
An independent panel of judges with knowledge related to innovation
chose the winners from a group of about 50 applicants, Ms. Baunach said.
They selected technologies that they believe have the potential to have
a large impact in the near future, she said.
The panel chose the following companies:
AnalizaDx LLC is a Cleveland-based cancer diagnostics company that has
developed a technology that can detect changes in the structure of
proteins in biological fluids such as blood and urine. These changes
could help doctors detect cancer.
EyePlusPlus of Beachwood has a Forehead Sensory Recognition System meant
to provide information to individuals with blindness or impaired sight.
The technology converts video images captured by a tiny camera mounted
on sunglasses into a pattern that can be felt on the forehead, allowing
the user to perceive objects.
MemPro Ceramics has a filtration technology that could cut the cost of
using catalysts in the production of products such as pharmaceuticals,
chemicals, and food and beverages. The technology uses ceramic
nanofibers to capture undesirable particles while removing gaseous
pollutants from the environment. The company's president recently moved
to Akron from Denver to work with researchers at the University of
Akron, though some operations remain in Colorado.
NanoMimetics Inc. of Cleveland is focused on the development and
commercialization of nanocoatings for medical and industrial uses. Its
technology is aimed at improving medical device efficacy by increasing
compatibility with the human body.
SpineMatrix Inc. is an Akron-based spinal imaging company that has
developed a device that evaluates the physiology of the lower back to
detect the origin of pain and injuries. The device could help doctors
diagnose problems noninvasively and with better accuracy.
TeamCase, a partnership among Case Western Reserve University
engineering students, faculty and corporate sponsors, has produced a
self-driving vehicle called Dexter. TeamCase earlier this month competed
in but did not win the 2007 DARPA Urban Challenge, a 60-mile race with
no human intervention, and it will be featured in an Urban Challenge documentary to be aired in February on the Discovery Science Channel.
Technology Management Inc. of Cleveland is developing and
commercializing a Solid Oxide Fuel Cell system for rural and military
markets. The company's systems can be shipped overnight, require little
maintenance to operate and run on many common fuels.
About Case Western Reserve University
Case is among the nation's leading research institutions. Founded in 1826 and shaped by the unique merger of the Case Institute of Technology and Western Reserve University, Case is distinguished by its strengths in education, research, service, and experiential learning. Located in Cleveland, Case offers nationally recognized programs in the Arts and Sciences, Dental Medicine, Engineering, Law, Management, Medicine, Nursing, and Social Work. For more information, visit www.case.edu.
About the Case School of Engineering
A world-class engineering research institution with premier educational programs, the Case School of Engineering is committed to education beyond the classroom, research across disciplines and relationships around the world. Wherever they go, Case faculty, students and alumni consistently lead their fields and benefit society. For more information, visit www.engineering.case.edu.
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