Since 1987, the CONNECT Most Innovative New Product (MIP) Awards have been San Diego’s “Oscars” for local technology innovation.  The 2011 finalists in the Clean Technology category include Genomatica for Process for High-Volume Chemicals from Renewable Feedstocks, Noble Environmental Technologies Corporation for ECOR and Wildcat Discovery Technologies for 5V Cathode (CM1) and Electrolyte (EM1).  Winners will be announced on Friday, December 9th before an audience of more than 800 of San Diego’s top executives, entrepreneurs, VCs and academics.  Click here to register for the MIP exhibition and awards luncheon. 

San Diego’s 18th Annual TechAmerica High Tech Awards finalists in the Clean Technology category include EcoATM, Hadronex, Juice Technologies and Sapphire Energy.  Click here to register for the October 28th event. 

The regional cleantech cluster in San Diego continues to receive national recognition.  On Wednesday the Global Cleantech Cluster Association announced the semifinalists for the 2011 Later Stage Award competition.  This best-of-the-best recognition includes four San Diego cleantech companies, Genomatica, PowerGenix, Achates Power and EcoATM.  In another forum Sapphire Energy was honored as a “Game Changer of the Year 2011” in Clean Technology by Grow-California for their impact on California’s green industry.

Next 500 is a San Diego-based media website which “takes you inside the most innovative and captivating companies set to one day emerge as Fortune 500 powerhouses”.  Several of Next 500’s high quality videos feature companies listed in CleanTECH San Diego company database.  Each of the engaging videos run about five minutes.  The host is Beck Bamberger of BAM Communications.  Take a click to view the flicks.

Solatube

ZuumCraft

Portable Farms LLC

D&K Engineering

Elliptigo

EcoATM

DriveCam

For the last 22 years CONNECT has put the spotlight on Most Improved Products from local innovators.  This year the competition has drawn approximately 100 entries.  In the Clean Technology category this year’s finalists are On-Ramp Wireless for Ultra-Link Processing Wireless Communication System, ecoATM (formerly reMobile) for ecoATM and Ultraviolet Sciences for UVS Ultraviolet Water Purification Systems.  Two weeks ago On-Ramp Wireless was introduced as one of the founding members of the San Diego smart grid coalition.   

The MIP honor in the Clean Technology category last year went to Reaction Design for Energico.  You will have to wait until December 11^th to learn who gets the trophy in 2009.