MINNEAPOLIS, Sept. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- The Minnesota High Tech Association (MHTA) and Minnesota Technology Inc. (MTI), in partnership with LifeScience Alley, today announced finalists for the seventh annual Tekne Awards, a celebration of superior technological development and leadership in Minnesota.

The 2006 Tekne Awards finalists represent a distinguished collection of technology companies that have positively impacted Minnesota's quality of life and helped secure Minnesota's place as one of the most technologically advanced regions across the globe. Awards are separated into categories that recognize the best and brightest in innovation, development, commercialization and management of technology in Minnesota.

"For seven years, the Tekne Awards have proved that Minnesota remains on the forefront of technological innovation," said Kate Rubin, president of MHTA. "Each year I am more impressed with the depth and breadth of leadership and innovation showcased by our pool of finalists."

"Many of the 2006 Tekne Awards finalists have not only shaped the thriving technology landscape in Minnesota, but world-wide, as well," said Wayne A. Pletcher, Ph.D., president and CEO of MTI.

The 2006 Tekne Awards will be presented on Thursday, Oct. 26 at the Minneapolis Convention Center, beginning with a reception and silent auction at 4:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 6 p.m. and the awards ceremony at 7 p.m. The keynote address will be delivered by Warren Staley, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Cargill Incorporated.

To register for the 2006 Tekne Awards ceremony, visit http://www.tekneawards.org/ or contact Scott Sandberg at (952) 230-4554 or ssandberg@mhta.org.

The 2006 Tekne Award categories and finalists include: INNOVATION AWARD

Honors a business, academic institution, teacher or business/academic collaboration that has demonstrated leadership, dedication and excellence in the development of an innovation in areas such as digital technology, nanotechnology, MEMS, or medtech/biotech, genomics/ bioinformatics or other areas of life sciences research with the potential to contribute significantly to Minnesota's technology-based economy.

-- Emerging company finalists are E-ride Industries, Princeton; Hysitron Inc., Eden Prairie; and Precision Inc., Minneapolis. -- Established company finalists are Ecolab Inc., St. Paul; Imation Corp., Oakdale; and Stratasys Inc., Eden Prairie. -- Innovation in teaching finalists are Brad Blue, Minneapolis Public Schools, Minneapolis; Paul Keeney, Northdale Middle School, Coon Rapids; and Pat St. Peter, Irondale High School, New Brighton. TECHNOLOGY COMPANY AWARD

Recognizes emerging companies (annual revenues under $50 million) and established companies (annual revenues of $50 million+), or divisions within established companies, that exemplify the entrepreneurial spirit and promise continued economic growth through technology development and/or application in the following six categories:

Advanced Manufacturing - Advanced materials and chemicals, machinery and equipment, electronics and components, measuring instruments, photonics, optics and lasers, computer and peripheral equipment.

-- Emerging company finalists are Alexandria Extrusion Company, Alexandria; MOCON Inc., Minneapolis; and Winland Electronics, Mankato. -- Established company finalists are 3M, St. Paul; General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems, Bloomington; and Watlow, Winona.

Biotechnology - Agriculture, environmental, food science and pharmaceuticals.

-- Emerging company finalists are BioE, St. Paul; Biothera, Eagan; and Gel-Del Technologies, St. Paul. -- Established company finalists are Cargill Incorporated, Minneapolis; Ecolab Inc., St. Paul; and MGI PHARMA Inc., Bloomington.

IT-Software, Communications, and Infrastructure - Software, networking, communications, and wireless equipment and products.

-- Emerging company finalists are iCentera Corp, Burnsville; SPS Commerce, Minneapolis; and VisionShare Inc., Minneapolis. -- Established company finalists are Fargo Electronics Inc., Eden Prairie; City of Eagan Technology Working Group, Eagan; and Stellent Inc., Eden Prairie. Medical Technology - Devices, diagnostics and equipment. -- Emerging company finalists are Lumen Biomedical Inc., Plymouth; Micromedics, St. Paul; and Minnetronix, St. Paul. -- Established company finalists are Medtronic Inc., Minneapolis; Starkey Laboratories Inc, Eden Prairie; and Vital Images, Minnetonka.

Technology Services - Innovative use of processes, methodologies and applications of technology; innovative design or application of existing technology and processes.

-- Emerging company finalists are Digineer Inc., Plymouth; StoneL Corp., Fergus Falls; and WynEdge Software Inc., Minnetonka. -- Established company finalists are Cargill Incorporated, Minneapolis; MTS Systems, Eden Prairie; and Rimage, Minneapolis.

Technology User - Innovative application of products or services resulting in dramatic business improvement or market advantage.

-- Emerging company finalists are 7 Medical Systems LLC, Minneapolis; Cool Clean Technologies Inc., Eagan; and Reshare Corporation, Minneapolis. -- Established company finalists are Edina Realty Home Services, Edina; Imation Corp., Oakdale; and Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, St. Paul. LEADERSHIP AWARD

The Leadership Award honors an outstanding individual who, beyond a specific innovation or achievement, has contributed significantly to Minnesota's technology expansion.

-- Emerging leadership finalists are Robert Juncker, chief technology officer, Gearworks, Eagan; Brett Shockley, CEO & Chairman, Spanlink Communications, Plymouth; and Dee Thibodeau, CEO, Charter Solutions, Plymouth. -- Established leadership finalists are William Hoffman, executive director, MBBnet, Minneapolis; Richard King, senior vice president and CTO, Thomson West, Eagan; and Michael Luker, president- Sunny Fresh Foods, Cargill Incorporated, Minneapolis.

The 2006 Tekne Awards are made possible by the generous support of its sponsors: Oppenheimer Wolff & Donnelly; Thomson West; 3M; ADC; Cargill; Grant Thornton; Honeywell; Marsh; Onvoy; Padilla Speer Beardsley; The Business Journal; Entegris; Faegre & Benson; Fish & Richardson; KPMG; Microsoft; MSI Systems Integrators; PricewaterhouseCoopers; Stellent; and Unisys.

Sponsors of the 2006 Tekne Silent Auction include the ADC Foundation and Onvoy.

About Minnesota High Tech Association (MHTA)

The Minnesota High Tech Association (MHTA) accelerates the growth, sustainability and global competitiveness of Minnesota's technology-based economy through public policy advocacy, member collaboration and education, and community outreach. MHTA is the only membership organization that represents Minnesota's entire technology-based economy. MHTA members include organizations of every size -. involved in virtually every aspect of technology creation, production, application and education in Minnesota. MHTA works in partnership with AeA, which represents Minnesota's technology organizations nationally. Find out more online at http://www.mhta.org/ .

About MTI

Minnesota Technology, Inc. (MTI) helps drive the small to mid-size manufacturing sector by selling greater efficiency tools, productivity and growth solutions, and cutting edge information at competitive rates. MTI operates as a private 501(C)3 organization, collaborating with the federal government, to provide a public service that stimulates business and economic development in Minnesota's manufacturing sector. MTI's staff are competent, trained professionals with expertise in leading edge productivity tools and growth solutions, committed to making Minnesota a stronger player in the global manufacturing matrix.

CONTACT: Peter Lindstrom, Minnesota High Tech Association,
+1-952-230-4551, or plindstrom@mhta.org ; or Danielle Engholm, Padilla Speer
Beardsley Inc., +1-612-455-1764, or dengholm@psbpr.com

Web site: http://www.mhta.org/
http://www.tekneawards.org/

Company News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/144694.html