Launched in 2006, the Rhode Island Innovation Awards honor individuals and organizations that are making innovation central to their activities or have gone beyond the call of duty to help others innovate.

Last year, more than 40 applications were received for the award from across the state. Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island took home the Innovation of the Year award in 2006 after it set up the first video conferencing interpreting system in the nation, allowing Spanish-speaking patients to privately communicate with their physicians. Multi, Design for People co-founder, Kat Darula, was honored with the Rising Star Innovator award for her work in making places more accessible to people with disabilities. Other past winners can be viewed here.

"Celebrating success and bringing recognition to the state's innovators is an important part of helping people understand why innovation is central to Rhode Island's economic growth," says RIEDC executive director Saul Kaplan. "...Rhode Island has what it takes to be a national innovation leader..."

This year marks the first year that RIEDC and PBN are partnering with the Tech Collective to combine the innovation awards with Tech Collective's Tech Laureates Night..."We all agree that collaboration is Rhode Island's secret weapon in making innovation more commonplace..."says Tim Hebert, CEO of Atrion Networking Corporation and Chairman of the Tech Collective.

Applications will be accepted until September 4, 2007 and are available at PBN online or by contacting PBN's Bernadette Drennen at 401-273-2201 ext. 220. The winners will be honored at a gala celebration on September 20, 2007 at Hasbro's World Headquarters in Pawtucket.