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InnoVision Awards Announces 2020 Award Finalists

(For questions:  Contact Amy Robichaud at amy.robichaud@innovisionawards.org)

InnoVision awards recognizes innovation in South Carolina annually through its InnoVision Awards program.  This year, InnoVision received a record number of applications reflecting both the strength of the innovation economy in South Carolina and the special circumstances of the 2020 pandemic.

Each year, InnoVision Awards recognizes innovative companies and individuals in several categories:  Technology Development, Technology Application, Small Business, Sustainability, Education, and Community Service.  It also recognizes programs that teach STEM and innovation through its Ibrahim Janajreh Young Innovator Award and individual life-time achievement through the Dr. Charles Townes Individual Achievement Award.

After observing so many innovative responses to the Covid-19 challenge, the InnoVision Board of Directors added a special award category for 2020:  Covid-19 Response.  Once applications were received, they were divided into three categories:  technology research, technology application, and community service.

InnoVision will host a series of Tuesday Meet the Finalists online get-togethers to announce and congratulate the finalists in two award categories each Tuesday at 4:00, starting Sept 29th and ending October 20th.  “We invite everyone to join us for our weekly virtual receptions to meet our finalists and hear them talk about their innovations,” said Amy Robichaud.  The finalists, reception dates, and event links are posted on our website at www.innovisionawards.org.

The winners will be announced at the Tuesday, November 17th Awards Ceremony.  Since it is a virtual celebration this year, it is open and free to the public.  InnoVision appreciates the important role their sponsors have played in making this happen.  Contec is the Award Celebration Sponsor.   South Carolina Research Authority and Velux are the Meet the Finalist Series sponsors.  Sponsors for individual award categories are noted in the list below.

  • Technology Development – Fluor
  • Technology Integration – Immedion
  • Sustainability – Milliken
  • Small Business – Kim & Lahey Law Firm
  • Education – Techtronic Industries Power Equipment

InnoVision Awards, established in 1999, is South Carolina’s premier organization dedicated to the advancement of innovation and technology.  InnoVision is the only program of its kind – a grass-roots, volunteer-led non-profit organization made up of businesses, organizations, universities, and individuals dedicated to finding innovation and technology in products, services, and education from across the state, and recognizing and honoring peers for achievements in their respective fields.  InnoVision Awards are the mark of distinction for outstanding leadership, innovation, and technological excellence.

 

CALLING ALL INNOVATORS!

Quick, simplified nomination process for 2020!

Now is the time to recognize all of the remarkable innovators around us in South Carolina.

Some innovations have their roots in technology. Have you and your organization developed a new technology? Introduced a new product, process, or service that builds on technological innovation? Designed a creative new business model for reaching new customers?

Some innovations have their roots in crisis. Has your organization responded to the challenges of COVID-19 in creative ways? Produced a new product, designed a new supply chain, employed technology in novel ways?

Some innovations have their roots in community. Has your organization developed or led innovative programs for education or community service? Stepped up in creative, innovative ways to help the community with the COVID-19 crisis?

Look around you. Do you see examples of others in the community who have come up with new, innovative ideas, programs, products, and the like? Consider nominating them.  

Click here to nominate yourself, your company or others. There are only 3 questions.

 

InnoVision Awards Announces 2019 Award Winners

Cody Reynolds, Chair of the InnoVision Awards Board of Directors, is pleased to announce the 2019 InnoVision Award Winners, recognized during the Awards Dinner, held at the Spartanburg Marriott.

Community Service:  Public Education Partners Greenville County & Acuitas Economics were recognized for their InformEdsc.org website access tool. The development incorporates statistical analysis with easy-to-understand formats and dynamic graphical interfaces; to support, strengthen and advance public education and student achievement.

Education: Van Robotics, Inc have designed and built engaging and adaptive robot tutors to accelerate learning among young students through personalized learning interactions.  They have conducted pilot tests with over 200 students and have just launched manufacturing of their first 700 commercial robots out of their USC Incubator shop.

Small Enterprise: Stomagienics, Inc. has invented innovative healthcare solutions that improve the well-being of patients who have undergone ostomy surgery. Their products help reduce peristomal skin conditions, reduce leakage of the ostomy pouching system, and instill patient confidence and independence.

Sustainability: Sonshine Development, LLC have developed the SolarSpot 7, which converts the sun’s radiant energy to heat energy by its unique energy conversion coil. The compact system provides a proprietary, dual axis tracker that follows the sun and tilts through the seasons to increase heat output about 40% more than stationary rooftop units.

Technology Development: MIPY, LLC has designed proprietary medical auto-injectors are superior to current drug delivery systems in size, simplicity, reliability, and cost.  The MIPY will first address the epinephrine market, but many other drugs can be incorporated into this simple, compact game-changing auto-injector.

Technology Integration: SeeDaten, Inc. was recognized for delivering Reality, Augmented Reality (AR) and Mixed Reality learning environments and process analysis to manufacturing, healthcare, and education. The AR solutions convert manual workflow into training modules complete with process verification via optical recognition.

Young Innovator: Legacy Early College High School was honored for instilling scholars from underserved communities with the motivation and opportunity to step out of their conventional classroom programs and to pursue project-based learning within a STEM instructional framework, leading to greater numbers of students acquiring the confidence to continue technical studies into college.

Charles Townes Lifetime Achievement: William B. Sturgis is a South Carolina business leader, was honored for his direction on local educational and banking boards, his visionary leadership while President at Cryovac, Inc. and his contributions to chemical engineering and packaging science, that have forever transformed food packaging.

Dr. Reynolds remarked, “I am continually amazed at the resourcefulness and drive of South Carolinian educators and inventors to create new resources and market solutions to opportunities.  I applaud all of these outstanding innovators.”

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For 21 years, InnoVision Awards has recognized businesses, community leaders, entrepreneurs, educators, and individuals who set new standards for innovation; by creating, developing, and implementing their visionary thinking, so as to preserve the environment and invigorate the economy of South Carolina. Please join us in our program. [www.InnoVisionAwards.org]

InnoVision Announces 2019 Keynote Speaker

For Immediate Release- November 12, 2019

InnoVision Announces 2019 Keynote Speaker

Spartanburg, SC- As South Carolina looks forward to the 21st Annual InnoVision Technology Awards, the InnoVision Board has released exciting details about this year’s dinner Keynote.

Colonel Andrew W. Batten, Chief of Staff for Science & Technology Integration Senior Engineering Director for Army Futures Command at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, will address the assembly at the upcoming November 21st banquet to be held at the Spartanburg Marriott.  Andrew leads the Future Vertical Lift cross functional team, thereby managing a portfolio of technologies focused upon the modernization, development and coordination of manned and unmanned Army aviation systems.

Colonel Batten is the recipient of the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal, and the Order of Saint Michael Silver Medal.

 

 

 

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InnoVision Awards celebrates the very best new technical innovations conducted in South Carolina. Tickets are going fast- Secure Your Seat of Distinction!

Tickets may be purchased through the website https://www.innovisionawards.org

InnoVision Telehealth Forum

Telemedicine offers direct access to off-site subject matter expert, providing the opportunity to improve the quality of care, reduce costs, and keep patients in their own communities.

Please join us at SCRA in Summerville, SC on October 24 at 3 PM to learn how new technologies, digital infrastructure, and virtual office visits are improving both urgent and rural healthcare.

This InnoVision Telehealth Forum will include James McElligott of the SC Telehealth Alliance, Joseph Krainin of Singular Sleep, Sachin Patel of Digital Health Solutions, and Bill Harley and Bob Adams of Zeriscope.

InnoVision Awards Announces the 2019 Call to Entry

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                        

June 11, 2019

INNOVISION ANNOUNCES CALL FOR ENTRIES

Greenville, SC – InnoVision Board announces the 21st Annual InnoVision Awards Call for Entries. The awards program recognizes innovative persons and organizations in South Carolina in six categories of technical innovation, as well as the special categories of Young Innovator and Townes Lifetime Achievement. Applications will be accepted until July 22, 2019. 

The categories are: 

New Technology Development: Recognizes a company or organization for the development of a new or improved technology.

Technology Integration: Recognizes a company or organization for an innovation arising from the integration of one or more existing technologies.
Education: Recognizes a company or organization for the innovative application or development of technology to positively impact education in South Carolina.

Community Service: Recognizes an organization for the innovative application or development of technology to improve the quality of life within South Carolina.

Sustainability: Recognizes an organization for development or application of technology to provide innovative support of environmental stewardship. 

Small Enterprise: Recognizes an organization with fewer than 50 full-time employees or less than $20 million in revenue, for the innovative application or development of new technology.

Winners in each award category will be announced at the 21st Annual InnoVision Awards Dinner on November 21, 2019. 

Applications can be found on our website: http://www.innovisionawards.org

The InnoVision Awards Program is South Carolina’s premier awards program focused exclusively on celebrating and enabling innovation through technology. InnoVision provides an opportunity for high visibility and exposure for your organization within the South Carolina business community through this juried competition.

About InnoVision

http://www.innovisionawards.orgEstablished in 1999, InnoVision is South Carolina’s premier organization dedicated to the advancement of innovation and technology. InnoVision maintains its commitment to supporting and celebrating technology and innovation through InnoVision educational Forums and its annual InnoVision Awards Banquet held each November. InnoVision is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, funded entirely by donations and sponsorships. 

InnoVision Announces 2018 Keynote Speaker!

InnoVision Announces 2018 Keynote Speaker!

Spartanburg, SC- As South Carolina looks forward to the 20th Annual InnoVision Technology Awards, the InnoVision Board has released exciting news about this year’s dinner Keynote.

                                                                     

Joshua Stewart Senior Engineering Director at Proterra, will address the assembly at the upcoming November 8th banquet to at the Spartanburg Marriott. Josh has continually gravitated toward exciting vehicles, having served as an Armor Officer in the United States Army, later having worked in professional racing as an engine and powertrain design engineer for various NASCAR teams including RouchYates Racing Engines, and now leading Proterra in the custom design and technical development of 21st century transit.

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InnoVision Awards celebrates the very best new technical innovations conducted in South Carolina. This year InnoVision will not only announce the Winners in seven categories, but include a look backward at some of the distinguished awardees and inventions during its history.
Tickets may be purchased through the website https://www.innovisionawards.org or https://www.eventbrite.com/e/innovision-awards-dinner-tickets-49036950840?aff=ebdssbeac

 

2018 Finalists Announced!

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Greenville, South Carolina August 13, 2018

 

 

InnoVision Awards Announces Finalists for 2018 Awards

 

For 20 years, InnoVision Awards has represented the mark of distinction for outstanding technological excellence, leadership, and innovation in South Carolina, and beyond.  InnoVision recognizes businesses, entrepreneurs, educators, and individuals who set new standards for innovation; by creating, developing, and implementing their visionary thinking, thereby invigorating the South Carolina economy.

 

Blaine Childress, President of the InnoVision Awards Board of Directors, is pleased to announce the Finalists for the 2018 InnoVision Awards.

 

Technology Development: Accessible Diagnostics (Greenville, SC); Heatworks (Mount Pleasant, SC); and Poly-Med (Anderson, SC).

 

Technology Integration: BANDWAGON (Greenville, SC); Contec (Spartanburg, SC); andInsignia Group (Rock Hill, SC).

 

Small Enterprise: P2 Ops (Fort Mill, SC); Southeastern Institute of Manufacturing (Florence, SC); and Tetramer Technologies (Pendleton, SC).

 

Education: Clear Touch Interactive (Greenville, SC); C.U. Early Literacy Center (Clemson, SC); and USC College of Engineering and Computing (Columbia, SC).

 

Sustainability: Mogul SC Nonwovens (Gray Court, SC); Unlimited Power, LTD. (Greenville, SC); and Worthwhile (Greenville, SC).

 

Community Service: 6 AM City, LLC (Greenville, SC); Global Transplant Solutions (Duncan, SC); and Westminster Presbyterian-Carolina High School (Greenville, SC).

 

Young Innovator: Converse College S.T.A.R.S. Program (Spartanburg, SC).

 

Mr. Childress remarked, “Selection by our distinguished Judging Panel as a Finalist for an InnoVision Award is a significant achievement and honor. The InnoVision Awards program receives entries from the entire state of South Carolina and is always very competitive.  On behalf of the InnoVision Board of Directors, I applaud and congratulate all of the businesses and institutions who conducted these outstanding innovations in the state of South Carolina.”

 

The annual Awards Dinner will be held at the Spartanburg Marriott on Thursday, November 8, 2018. Sponsorships, Tables and Individual Tickets are now available. Please contact info@InnoVisionAwards.org to reserve your place at this event.

Meet The Judges

The InnoVision jury panel is composed of consultants, technical leaders, university members, business leaders, and industrial researchers; all located outside the state of South Carolina. The judging process seeks the most significant new innovations in development, integration, sustainability, education, community service, and small enterprise.

The Judges:

Kevin Andrews

Kevin presently serves as Senior Program Manager at NineSigma NA in the Cleveland, Ohio region. He is a physical chemist with a strong background in R&D and a keen ability to connect innovations.

Joonhyung Cho

Joon is presently Director of Business Development, Industry Relations at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. He has a strong background in agricultural biotechnology and intellectual property commercialization.

Eloise Young

Eloise is challenge designer for HeroX, a sister organization to XPrize.  She is part of the design team for the Base 11 Space Challenge that recently launched. She is an organist chemist operating her own consultancy in Moreland Hills, Cleveland, Ohio.

Don Ross

Don is President of Innovare, Inc. in the greater Boston area. Innovare examines and discovers the backbone of technical problems and utilizes a vast network of contacts and methods to bring solutions to major clients. Prior to starting his company, Don was Director of Innovation at Ocean Spray.

Elizabeth A Newcomb-Hopfer

Beth is Associate Professor, Fashion Merchandising and Design, at NC A&T University in Greensboro, N.C.  Beth has a strong background in textile technology and textile management stemming from her graduate studies at N.C. State.

Brad Tompkins

Brad is the CEO of VMware User Group (VMUG), operating out of Franklin, Tennessee. Brad is a global leader in corporate information technology, helping lead his over 100,000 global members in education, strategy, profitability, and operations.

Seetha Coleman-Kummula

Seetha is CEO of the Science, Technology, and Research Institute of Delaware (STRIDE), operating out of Newark, DE. Seetha is truly an international leader, having worked in Amsterdam, Brussels, Houston, UK, Milan, Frankfurt, Midland, and Wilmington. Since 2006, she has strongly focused on Sustainability.

InnoVision Awards Partner Hosting GCC on June 14th

InnoVision Awards partner, Upstate SC Alliance, is hosting an important opportunity to hear how the Global Competitive Council has forged important relationships with middle market international partners to bring technology and new industry investments. Please take the opportunity to attend an enriching program entitled, Grow Your Business Through Global Connections. You are encouraged to register by clicking on the link below.

Important Info:

Grow Your Business Through Global Connections
June 14, 2018 | The Poinsett Club
Breakfast & Networking: 8 a.m.
Program: 8:30 a.m.
Cost: $20

Register Here

How global is the Upstate and how does that impact your company and our regional economy? Join a list of speakers on June 14th to learn more!

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South Carolina’s premier organization dedicated to the advancement of technology.