The third annual Rhode Island Innovation Awards (presented by the Providence Business News in partnership with the RIEDC and Tech Collective, and sponsored by Cox Business) are designed to honor Rhode Island-based companies, organizations and individuals that constantly replace existing methods, models and products with better ones.

Past winners include several info-tech and digital media organizations and entrepreneurs such as: Matt Grigsby, developer of Ecolect.net, a free website that helps those interested in sustainable design source sustainable materials; Brian Jepson and Jack Templin, Co-Founders of Providence Geeks; and Item Group, a product design firm that does everything from hardware to software to firmware.

Innovation Awards winners will be honored at the annual Tech Laureates Night, held at Kirkbrae Country Club on September 18, and will be published in a Providence Business News special report released in September.

Awards include: 

• Innovation of the Year
• Innovation Champion
• Collaborative Innovation Leader
• Innovator of the Year
• Rising Star Innovator
• Student Innovator
• Innovation Champion

To apply, fill out the short application form. It's due by August 20. Good luck!

Meghan O'Connor is Communications Coordinator at the RIEDC.

Thanks to everyone who turned out for the special RI Nexus breakfast event on December 6. More than 100 people showed up to take part in an impressive panel discussion about next generation working spaces in Rhode Island. The conversation has been started. Let the fun begin! Stay tuned for upcoming RI Nexus events and forums in 2008. And, as always, feel free to submit ideas or suggestions on forum topics on the site.

With that said, in case you missed the event or if you just want a re-cap, check out Patricia Resendes’ take on the panel discussion.