Minnesota High Tech Association Recognizes Minnesota-Based Leaders of
Innovation and Technology
MINNEAPOLIS, Nov. 4, 2010 - More than a dozen companies and organizations, along with
three individual leaders, were honored with a 2010 Tekne Award from the Minnesota High Tech
Association (MHTA) during last night's ceremony at the Minneapolis Convention Center.
Presented in partnership with LifeScience Alley, Enterprise Minnesota and the BioBusiness
Alliance of Minnesota, the Tekne Awards honor innovative technology achievement across a
range of fields, from manufacturing to life sciences to education.
The 12 Tekne Award categories recognize the best and brightest in innovation, development,
commercialization and management of technology in Minnesota. Industry awards included
separate categories for small and growing businesses (with 
annual revenues under $50 million) and established
businesses (with annual revenues of $50 million or more).
"When coming out of a recession, it's easy to lose sight of all
the business innovation and progress around us," said
MaryFrances Schurb, interim president of MHTA. "The Tekne
Awards provide an excellent opportunity to celebrate the
successes and truly amazing innovations being developed right
here in Minnesota. This year's Tekne Award recipients are major contributors to Minnesota's
leadership in innovative technology. We look forward to seeing them grow and are fortunate to
have such exceptional leaders in our state."
Senator Amy Klobuchar addressed attendees at the ceremony. As the chair of the Subcommittee
on Competitiveness, Innovation, and Export Promotion, Klobuchar has been a leading voice in
calling for an innovation agenda that will grow our economy and create jobs in America.
The evening also featured the induction of the third class into the Minnesota Science and
Technology Hall of Fame, a partnership between MHTA and the Science Museum of Minnesota.
This year's inductees include professors, engineers and entrepreneurs. Created to honor local
leaders who have helped to shape Minnesota as a global leader of innovative technologies, the
Minnesota Science and Technology Hall of Fame's newest inducted class has made an impact on
a local, national and international scale.
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INNOVATIVE COLLABORATION OF THE YEAR AWARD
The Innovative Collaboration of the Year Award honors a business/community/higher-ed/K-12
collaboration or partnership that has demonstrated leadership, dedication and excellence in
delivering an innovation to the Minnesota technology economy and/or community in general.
The Innovative Collaboration of the Year Award recipient is Genesys Works. The mission of
Genesys Works is to enable minority and economically-challenged high school students
to enter the economic mainstream by providing them the knowledge and work experience
required to succeed as computer technology
professionals. Genesys Works creates a
strong connection between urban public high schools
and the professional world by training students from
disadvantaged backgrounds and placing them in IT
departments of Fortune 1000 companies in the Twin
Cities Metro Area. Genesys Works selects high potential, low-income youth with the ability and
drive to succeed in college and as lifelong professionals, and in the past three years has
accepted a total of 173 students from Minnesota school districts including Minneapolis, Richfield,
Robbinsdale and St. Paul. In August 2010, nearly 30 clients hired about 80 area students, a
direct result of Genesys Works' training for workforce readiness.
(excerpted from Tekne Award press release, 11.4.2010)
Genesys Works Tekne Award also mentioned:
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