Past Recipients

Over 250 awards have been presented during the Tekne Awards’ celebrations over the past two decades. Companies ranging from startups to global industry leaders have all benefited from their moment in the Tekne spotlight. Take a look at the organizations and individuals who have earned a Tekne Award for their innovative contribution to our science and technology ecosystem.

2018

November 29, 2018 | Minneapolis Convention Center

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Advanced Manufacturing

Honors innovation in manufacturing, manufacturing equipment and processing, with an emphasis on increased speed, accuracy, strong product customization and reduced costs. Examples include, but are not limited to: machine-tools, machine-to-machine components, mechatronics, intelligent technical systems, 3D-additive manufacturing, and integration of Industry 4.0 concepts into advanced manufacturing systems.

PaR Systems

Biotech/Pharmaceuticals

Celebrates innovation and pioneering efforts in biotechnology or pharmaceuticals to provide game-changing advancement in the healthcare field. Examples include, but are not limited to: gene therapies, precision medicine, drug discovery and delivery, etc.

3M

Building Design and Infrastructure

Honors the integration of technology in building design, construction and operation. Examples include, but are not limited to: smart grid, productive workplace design, green building materials, or applied innovative building design in occupant comfort and indoor air quality.

Uponor

Clean Technology/ Energy

Shines a spotlight on innovation that enhances energy efficiency, conservation or renewable energy generation and storage. Examples include, but are not limited to: solar or wind power, biofuels, petroleum replacement or personal transportation.

OATI

Community Impact

Recognizes the development or implementation of technology that serves an unmet community need. Entries should demonstrate significant improvement or modernization through a product, service or innovation that assists underserved populations, enhances quality of life, health or safety, or promotes an innovative job creation strategy. Two or more parties can be involved and submit a joint application. Both non-profit and for-profit organizations are eligible.

STARBASE Minnesota

Cybersecurity

Recognizes innovative products or services that secure networks, computers, or systems from unintended or unauthorized access. Examples include, but are not limited to: identity management products or services, trusted authentication, disaster recovery, secure data storage, computer forensics, and verification processes.

Unisys

Emerging Technologies - Large Company

Celebrates a cutting edge product or service that is pushing the boundaries of technology or application of technology and/or significantly disrupting an industry. Examples include, but are not limited to: Blockchain, predictive analytics, artificial intelligence, machine learning, integrated sensor technologies, etc.

Seagate Technology

Emerging Technologies - Small Company

MultiTech Systems

Food/ Ag Tech

Honors technological advances in agricultural operations or food production that enhance productivity and efficiency, improve environmental sustainability or contribute to food safety.

Land O’Lakes

Health IT

Recognizes advances in the application of information technology to the healthcare sector, helping to diagnose diseases, increase efficiencies and improve patient outcomes. This category rewards technologies which have made a real impact to improve patient healthcare and quality of life.

Carrot Health

IT Solutions Consulting

Celebrates the contributions of technology solutions providers and consultants whose research and technical expertise help clients to optimize workloads and systems for future-state readiness, reduce costs, speed time to market and/or protect infrastructure.

Charter Solutions

Medical Device

Honors significant achievements in medical product design and engineering that improve the quality of healthcare delivery and accessibility. Examples include, but are not limited to: instruments, machines, implants, in vitro reagents or other related products that are intended for the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment or prevention of disease or other conditions.

RxFunction

Science & Technology Startup

Recognizes an early-stage Minnesota science or technology company with commercialized products that demonstrates significant potential, creativity and a promising future. Company revenue for 2017 is $5m or less and 50% or more of its employees are based in Minnesota.

HabitAware

Software - Established

Honors innovation in software development or applications to solve strategic business challenges, guide business decisions or enhance productivity and efficiency. Examples include, but are not limited to: website plug-ins, back-end organizational software, mobile development, stream processing, scheduling, supply chain, etc. Established Companies, $50m+ in 2017 revenue.

Thomson Reuters

Software - Small and Growing

Agosto

STEM Workforce Development

Celebrates innovative approaches to talent development in the STEM fields, including efforts to close Minnesota’s STEM skills gap and provide solutions to address Minnesota’s STEM workforce shortage.

Minnesota State University-Mankato

2017

November 15, 2017 | Minneapolis Convention Center

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Analytics

Honors innovative applications for turning data driven insights into improved business processes or outcomes. Examples include digital marketing, customer experience mapping, predictive innovation, identifying new revenue opportunities, retail applications, etc.

Calabrio

Building Design & Infrastructure

Honors the integration of technology in the design, construction and operation of the built environment. Entries should demonstrate innovation and leadership in one or more areas of intelligent building infrastructure, sustainable energy efficiency and productive workplace design.

Perkins + Will

Communications Technology

Celebrates a product or service with demonstrated impact on interactive forms of communication including the Internet, mobile technologies, social media, and other telecommunications based technologies or applications.

PeopleNet

Community Impact

Recognizes the development or implementation of technology that serves an unmet community need. Entries should demonstrate significant improvement or modernization through a product, service or innovation that assists underserved populations, enhance quality of life, health or safety, or promotes an innovative job creation strategy. Two or more parties can be involved and submit a joint application. Both non-profit and for-profit organizations are eligible.

Minnesota IT Services

Cyber Security

Recognizes innovative products or services that secure networks, computers, or systems from unintended or unauthorized access. These include but are not limited to identity management products or services, trusted authentication, disaster recovery, secure data storage, computer forensics, and verification processes.

Arcserve

Healthcare

Honors innovative development or deployment of medical devices, diagnostics or equipment, data management, communication systems integration, disease treatment, or pharmaceuticals that measurably improves patient care delivery, reduces recovery times, or improves patient health.

OneOme

Industry Impact

Recognizes the development or implementation of technology with impact across a specific sector or industry. Entries should demonstrate significant improvement or modernization in processes or products and can include better customer/client experience, engagement, or ecommerce. Two or more parties can be involved and submit a joint application.

Activated Research Company

Internet of Things

Honors the development of Internet of Things including use of sensors and wearable solutions that add increased efficiency or enhanced value to clients or customers.

Select Comfort

Software — Established Companies

Honors innovation in software development or applications that enhance productivity and efficiency for business or consumer use.

ABILITY

Software — Small & Growing Companies

Honors innovation in software development or applications that enhance productivity and efficiency for business or consumer use.

Sentera

Start Up

Honors an early-stage Minnesota technology company with commercialized products that demonstrates significant potential, creativity and a promising future.

StemoniX

STEM Education

Recognizes innovative curriculum and programs that promote STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) in an E-12 Minnesota classroom or community.

Code Savvy

Workforce Development

Honors innovative approaches to training workers in transition or youth with technology skills and successfully matching them to jobs that meet the needs of Minnesota companies.

Rêve Academy

2016

November 16, 2016 | Minneapolis Convention Center

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Advanced Manufacturing

Honors innovation in the manufacturing process to increase speed, accuracy and reduce costs, while minimizing environmental impact.

Proto Labs

Agriculture Technology & Food Safety

Honors technological advances in agricultural operations that enhance productivity and efficiency, improve environmental sustainability or contribute to food safety.

Recombinetics

Applied Analytics

FPX

Collaboration for Community Impact

Recognizes a collaboration or partnership that demonstrates leadership, dedication and excellence in delivering an innovation to Minnesota while meeting an unmet community need. This product, service or innovative technology could assist an under served population or community, enhance quality or life, health or safety for the community at large, or promote an innovative job creation strategy. There must be two or more parties involved (and the application must be submitted jointly). Both non-profit and/or for-profit organizations are eligible to apply.

Minnesota Computers for Schools

Cyber Security

SIFT

Education Technology

Honors innovations that measurably improve student learning and academic performance in the classroom. This includes the development of educational games, learning apps for mobile devices, innovative approaches to distance learning, or student project assignments that engage students with core curriculum via technology.

Auditory Sciences

Energy and Clean Tech

Honors innovations that enhance efficiency of energy usage or delivery, reduced environmental impact, and encourage energy conservation.

75F

Healthcare — Established Companies

Apri Health

Healthcare — Small & Growing

GeneSegues Therapeutics

Internet of Things

Honors the development of Internet of Things solutions that add increased efficiency or enhanced value to clients or customers.

NimbeLink

Software — Established

Honors innovation in software development or applications that enhance productivity and efficiency for business or consumer use.

Sovos Compliance

Software — Small & Growing

Honors innovation in software development or applications that enhance productivity and efficiency for business or consumer use.

Medicom Digital

Startup

Honors an early-stage Minnesota technology company with commercialized products that demonstrates significant potential, creativity and a promising future. Company must be: less than 3 years old, have 1 – 30 employees and generating revenues.

Sentera

Workforce Development

Honors innovative approaches to training workers in transition or youth with technology skills and successfully matching them to jobs that meet the needs of Minnesota companies.

Tech Dump

2015

November 18, 2015 | Minneapolis Convention Center

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Advanced Manufacturing

Honors innovation in the manufacturing process to increase speed, accuracy and reduce costs, while minimizing environmental impact.

PaR Systems, Inc.

Agriculture Technology & Food Safety

Honors technological advances in agricultural operations that enhance productivity and efficiency, improve environmental sustainability or contribute to food safety.

Ecolab — Dairy Quality Enhancement Program

Applied Analytics

Reeher

Collaboration for Community Impact

Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs

Cyber Security

TransAuth

Education Technology

South Central College

Energy and Clean Tech

Honors innovations that enhance efficiency of energy usage or delivery, reduced environmental impact, and encourage energy conservation.

H.B. Fuller

Healthcare — Established Companies

Medtronic

Healthcare — Small and Growing

Rebiotix, Inc.

Internet of Things

Honors the development of Internet of Things solutions that add increased efficiency or enhanced value to clients or customers.

Zivix, LLC

IT Services

Recognizes the contributions of technology service providers whose creative approaches to business solutions streamline client processes, reduce customer costs, shorten time to market, and/or increase service capacity or customer access through technology.

Field Nation

Software — Established Companies

Honors innovation in software development or applications that enhance productivity and efficiency for business or consumer use.

Digital River

Software — Small and Growing Companies

Honors innovation in software development or applications that enhance productivity and efficiency for business or consumer use.

Apex Revenue Technologies

Startup

Upsie

Workforce Development

Honors innovative approaches to training workers in transition or youth with technology skills and successfully matching them to jobs that meet the needs of Minnesota companies.

Genesys Works - Twin Cities

2014

November 13, 2014 | Minneapolis Convention Center

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Advanced Manufacturing

Honors innovation in the manufacturing process to increase speed, accuracy and reduce costs, while minimizing environmental impact.

T3 Scientific LLC

Agriculture And Food

Honors technological advances in agricultural operations that enhance productivity and efficiency, improve environmental sustainability or contribute to food safety.

Ecolab, Inc.

Collaboration For Community Impact

Recognizes a collaboration or partnership that demonstrates leadership, dedication and excellence in delivering an innovation to Minnesota while meeting an unmet community need. This product, service or innovative technology could assist an underserved population or community, enhance quality of life, health or safety for the community at large, or promote an innovative job creation strategy. There must be two or more parties involved (and the application must be submitted jointly). Both non-profit and/or for-profit organizations are eligible to apply.

The Works Museum and MN Department of Education

Watch Video

Cyber Security

Code42

Watch Video

Education Technology

Honors innovation that measurably improve student learning and academic performance in the classroom. This includes the development of educational games, learning apps for mobile devices, innovative approaches to distance learning or student project assignments that engage students with core curriculum via technology.

Awear Technologies

Energy

Honors innovations that enhance efficiency of energy usage or delivery, reduces environmental impact, and encourage energy conservation.

Ecolab, Inc.

Healthcare

Honors innovation in healthcare that measurably improves patient care delivery, reduces recovery times, or improves patient health. Examples include the development or deployment of medical devices, diagnostics or equipment, data management, communication systems integration, or disease treatment.

Starkey Hearing Technologies

IT Services

Recognizes the contributions of technology service providers whose creative approaches to business solutions streamline client processes, reduce customer costs, and shorten time to market, and/or increase service capacity or customer access through technology.

Delta Air Lines IT Department

Software - Established Company

Honors innovation in software or application development for business or consumer use.

SPS Commerce

Software - Small & Growing Company

Honors innovation in software or application development for business or consumer use.

Calabrio

Startup

NxThera, Inc.

Workforce Development

Honors innovative approaches to training workers in transition or youth with technology skills and successfully matching them to jobs that meet the needs of Minnesota companies.

Genesis10

2013

November 06, 2013 | Minneapolis Convention Center

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Advanced Manufacturing

Honors technological innovation in the manufacturing process to increase speed and accuracy and reduce costs.

3M

Agricultural Technology

Recognizes innovation in technologic development and/or usage in Minnesota agricultural operations, improving productivity, efficiency, and environmental sustainability.

The Toro Company

Computer Hardware & Electronic Devices

Honors innovative development of computer products, equipment or consumer electronic devices.

Honeywell

EdTech

Recognizes innovative development of technology to measurably improve K-12 student learning and academic performance in the classroom.

myON - a business unit of Capstone

Healthcare Delivery

Established Company: HealthPartners

Small & Growing Company: Corventis, Inc.

Impact on Industry

Established Company: Ecolab

Innovative Collaboration

Honors a collaboration or partnership that demonstrates leadership, dedication and excellence in delivering an innovation to Minnesota.

Boston Scientific and the University of Minnesota

Lifetime Achievement Award

Bill Linder-Scholer

Mobile Technologies

Recognizes innovative development of mobile applications and devices.

XRS Corporation

Public Service Awards

Senator Kari Dziedzic

Representative Bob Gunther

Representative Sheldon Johnson

Senator Carla Nelson

Representative Kim Norton

Senator Matt Schmit

Safety and Security

Honors innovative products or services used to improve, enhance, or secure networks, computers, or systems from unintended or unauthorized access.

MPC

Software

Honors innovation in software development or applications for business or consumer use.

Established Company: Navitaire

Small & Growing Company: UpNet Technologies

Startup

Honors an early-stage Minnesota technology company with commercialized products that demonstrates significant potential, creativity and a promising future.

CogCubed

STEM Education and Digital Learning

Recognizes innovative approaches or programs successful in engaging students and enhancing student learning through deployment of technology in learning opportunities inside or outside of the classroom.

University of St. Thomas—STEPS Camp

2012

November 01, 2012 | Minneapolis Convention Center

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Advanced Manufacturing

Honors technological advancement in the manufacturing of materials or chemicals, machinery and equipment, electronics and components, measuring instruments, photonics, optics and lasers.

Seagate Technology

Cleantech & Energy

Honors organizations that develop environmentally-sound products or solutions that reduce costs, inputs energy consumption, waste or pollution.

SheerWind, Inc.

Computer Hardware & Electronic Devices

Honors innovative development of computer products, equipment or consumer electronic devices.

Imation Corporation—DataGuard

Edutech

Recognizes development of technologies and/or innovative or use of technology in and out of the classroom to enhance teaching and learning.

University of Minnesota Rochester

Innovative Collaboration of the Year

Honors any type of collaboration or partnership that demonstrates leadership, dedication and excellence in delivering an innovation to Minnesota.

Blandin Foundation on behalf of the MIRC partners

Life Sciences

Honors innovative development of medical devices, diagnostics or equipment, disease treatment, pharmaceuticals, agriculture or food science.

Established Company: Starkey Hearing Technologies

Small & Growing Company: OrthoCor Medical

Lifetime Achievement Award

Dr. Ronald. J. Bennett

Mobile & Communication Technologies

Recognizes innovative development of mobile applications and devices and honors innovation in electronic communication.

MakeMusic, Inc.

Public Service Awards

Senator Michelle Benson

Senator Terri Bonoff

Senator Ted Daley

Representative Keith Downey

Representative Phyllis Kahn

Commissioner Carolyn Parnell

Senator Ann Rest

Robotics & Automation

Honors innovation in robotics and automation.

ReconRobotics, Inc.

Software

Honors innovation in software development or applications for business or consumer use.

Established Company: JAMF Software, LLC

Small & Growing Company: Code 42 Software, Inc.

Startup

Honors an early-stage Minnesota technology company with commercialized products that demonstrates significant potential, creativity and a promising future.

SparkWeave, LLC

Technology Excellence in a Non-Profit Organization

Honors a non-profit organization whose innovative use of technology has or will allow the organization to more effectively deliver on its mission and serve Minnesota and its communities.

Give MN

Technology Services & Consulting—Small & Growing

Honors a non-profit organization whose innovative use of technology has or will allow the organization to more effectively deliver on its mission and serve Minnesota and its communities.

Established Company: PeopleNet

Small & Growing Company: Agosto, Inc.

2011

November 03, 2011 | Minneapolis Convention Center

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Advanced Manufacturing

Honors technological advancement in the manufacturing of materials or chemicals, machinery and equipment, electronics and components, measuring instruments, photonics, optics and lasers.

Nova-Tech Engineering

Cleantech & Energy

Honors organizations that develop environmentally-sound products of solutions that reduce costs, inputs energy consumption, waste or pollution.

Ecolab

Computer Hardware & Electronic Devices

Honors innovative development of computer products, equipment or consumer electronic devices.

Global Traffic Technologies

Edutech

Recognizes development of technologies and/or innovative or use of technology in and out of the class-room to enhance teaching and learning.

Sophia

Innovative Collaboration of the Year

Honors any type of collaboration or partnership that demonstrates leadership, dedication and excellence in delivering an innovation to Minnesota.

Maverick Software Consulting Partnership

Life Sciences

Honors innovative development of medical devices, diagnostics or equipment, disease treatment, pharmaceuticals, agriculture or food science.

Established Company: Minntech Corporation

Small & Growing Company: Pursuit Vascular, Inc.

Mobile & Communication Technologies

Recognizes innovative development of mobile applications and devices and honors innovation in electronic communication.

GeaCom, Inc.

Public Service Awards

Senator Terri Bonoff

Representative Greg Davids

Representative Tim Mahoney

Senator Julianne Ortman

Senator Julie Rosen

Software

Honors innovation in software development or applications for business or consumer use.

Established Company: Imation

Small & Growing Company: Calabrio, Inc.

Technology Excellence in a Non-Profit Organization

Honors a non-profit organization whose innovative use of technology has or will allow the organization to more effectively deliver on its mission and serve Minnesota and its communities.

City of Minneapolis

Technology Services & Consulting—Small & Growing

Honors a non-profit organization whose innovative use of technology has or will allow the organization to more effectively deliver on its mission and serve Minnesota and its communities.

Established Company: Thomson Reuters

Small & Growing Company: Apex Print Technologies

Technology Use in Sustainability

Honors businesses that use green technology to practice environmental awareness and responsibility and incorporate sustainability principals into their overall business model.

KPMG LLP

2010

November 03, 2010 | Minneapolis Convention Center

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Advanced Manufacturing

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

Small & Growing company: Hysitron, Inc

Established company: 3M

Cleantech Award

Recognizes businesses that manufacture environmentally sound products or solutions that reduce costs, inputs, energy consumption, waste or pollution.

Tennant Company

Green Award

Honors businesses that practice environmental awareness/responsibility and incorporate sustainability principles into their business model.

Asset Recovery Corporation

Innovation in Teaching

Recognizes excellence in education by creating exciting learning opportunities for students through the innovative use of technology

Scot Hovan, Mahtomedi School District

Innovative Collaboration Award

Honors a business/community/academic collaboration that has demonstrated leadership, dedication and excellence in delivering innovation to Minnesota’s technology-based economy and/or the Minnesota community in general.

Genesys Works

IT-Software & Hardware, Communications & Infrastructure

Software & hardware, networking, communications, and wireless equipment and products.

Small & Growing company: Global Traffic Technologies

Established company: Vital Images, Inc.

Life Sciences

Medical devices, diagnostics or equipment, agriculture, food science or pharmaceuticals

Small & Growing company: CoreSpine Technologies, LLC

Established company: American Medical Systems

Next Generation Technology Leader

Honors a high potential individual who is 40 years old or younger and responsible for, or assists in, the advancement of technology and technology strategy within a company or organization.

Ralph Awad, Visi

Technology Excellence in Higher Education or Non-Profit Organization

Honors a non-profit organization or educational institution whose innovative use of technology has or will allow the organization to more effectively deliver on its mission and serve the MN Community

Minnesota Planetarium Society

Technology Executive of the Year

Honors individual members of executive teams who are responsible for the advancement of technology and technology strategy within a company or organization.

Gene Lytwyn, WynEdge Software

Technology Services

Finding innovative solutions for a client’s use of technology.

Small & Growing company: Open Access Technology International (OATI)

Established company: PearsonVUE

Technology User

Innovative application of products or services resulting in dramatic business improvement or market advantage