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Turning Innovation Into Enterprise

Guidelines

Spirit of Innovation Awards Guidelines

The Spirit of Innovation Awards are an opportunity to celebrate successes in innovation in West Virginia, and to recognize individuals and organizations who are leaders in supporting innovation and innovation-based business development.

The awards will be presented during an event on November 16, 2015 at the Culture Center in Charleston, WV.

Deadline for Nominations:  Monday, August 31, 2015

Nomination Categories

Innovator of the Year Award
This category is designed to recognize inventors or researchers (academic or non-academic) whose innovative work has created the greatest impact on technology in the state.

Criteria might include:  measurable impact in terms of creating a new market; expanding an existing market; future market potential; revenue growth; cost reduction; process improvement.

StartUp Innovation of the Year Award
This category is designed to recognize innovations from university tech transfer offices or private companies that have been in business less than five years (or had sales for less than 3 years). The innovations may or may not be commercialized, or may be new to the market, or emerging from R&D stage.

Criteria might include: measurable impact in terms of creating new product, service or technology; future market potential and revenue growth.

Student Innovator of the Year Award
This category is designed to recognize innovative student inventors or researchers who demonstrate innovative characteristics and whose work has created the greatest impact on technology.

Criteria might include:  measurable impact in terms of creating a new market; expanding an existing market; future market potential; revenue growth; cost reduction; process improvement.

Entrepreneurial Support of the Year – An individual or entity that has provided outstanding professional assistance to startup companies and entrepreneurs launching or expanding innovation-focused businesses.

Criteria might include: measurable impact in terms of creating new jobs or retaining existing jobs; number of clients served; total value of assistance delivered; formation of new businesses or expansion of existing businesses.

Outstanding Woman in Technology Recognition
This category is designed to recognize a woman who has demonstrated a commitment and dedication to innovation.

Criteria might include:  outstanding professional experience with success in business and technology; someone who has driven innovation that led to the development of new products and services; implemented groundbreaking processes and practices.

How to Nominate

Nominations should make a clear and compelling case explaining why the individual, team, or firm should be selected in each category.  Nominations should not exceed five pages in 12 point font.  You may wish to include items within the five pages such as articles, product brochures, and diagrams. Self nominations are permissible.

Click to download the Awards Application.

Eligibility

Individuals, companies, organizations, and other entities nominated must demonstrate contribution and success in technology innovation.  Preference will be given to nominations that are within the four technology platforms targeted by TechConnectWV:  Advanced Energy; Chemicals & Advanced Materials; Biotechnology; and Biometrics and Identity Management.  Self-nominations are permissible.

Individuals nominated must be residents of, or full-time students in, West Virginia; or if a company or organization, West Virginia-based.

Selection Committee

The judges come from academia, private industry, and the public sector.  Honorees will be notified in September 2015.

Awards Ceremony

All honorees will be invited to attend the 2015 Spirit of Innovation Awards Event on Monday, November 16, 2015 at the Culture Center in Charleston, WV.

Timeline

Nominations will open July 27, 2015.

All nominations must be received by 11:59 pm on August 31, 2015.

Submit to TechConnectWV in care of Anne Barth, anne@techconnectwv.org with the subject line: TechConnectWV Spirit of Innovation Awards.

Sponsors

For information about sponsorship opportunities, including award naming opportunities, contact anne@techconnectwv.org.