Marketplace's Kai Ryssal Will Emcee CONNECT's Most Innovative New Product Awards

Kai Ryssdal, host and senior editor of American Public Media's Marketplace, will emcee CONNECT's Most Innovative New Product Awards this year.

The annual Most Innovative New Products Awards, which started 25 years ago, focuses on innovation in the following nine categories – action and sports technologies, aerospace and security technologies, clean technology, communication and IT, hardware and general technology, diagnostic and research tools in life science, mobile apps, and software.

The Most Innovative Products Awards will be held Dec. 7 at the Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines. CONNECT said more than 800 of the region's top business leaders, researchers and capital providers attend and only eight companies receive top honors out of more than 100 that apply.

Applicants must have a product that was developed here in the San Diego area, was first introduced between March 2011 and September 2012, and has generated revenue from sales.

The 2012 MIP Finalists

Action and Sport Technologies 
Pacing Technologies, LLC for PaceDJ
PEAR Sports for PEAR Square One
TACTIC Race Solutions, LLC for Race HQ

Aerospace and Security Technologies
5D Robotics for 5D Robotics robot-side Behavior Engine (BE) software
Creative Electron for iRad Geiger 
Cubic Defense Application for DCID-TALON

Clean Technology
Atlantis Technologies for RDI desalination system
Malama Composites, Inc. for Studio BioFoam
The People's Movement for Clean Act Collection

Communications and IT
Ethertronics for EtherSmart LTE 
TrellisWare Technologies for Cheetah CUB 
ViaSat, Inc. for Exede Internet

Hardware and General Technology
Eco Building Products, Inc. for Eco Red Shield 
LifeProof for LifeProof nuud case for iPad 
Logic PD for DM3730 Torpedo + Wireless SOM

Life Science - Diagnostics and Research Tools
Life Technologies for Ion Proton Sequencer 
MO BIO Laboratories, Inc. for PowerMag Soil DNA Isolation Kit 
Targeson, Inc. for Targesphere

Life Science - Medical Products
Althea Technologies for Crystalomics 
Amylin Pharmaceuticals for BYDUREON 
Qualcomm Life for 2net Hub/2net Platform
Pfizer, Inc. for Xalkori (Crizotinib)

Software
BUMP Network, Inc. for BUMP Network Software 
Independa, Inc. for Independa Integrated CloudCare 
Nulu Languages for Nulu

Mobile Apps 
LIA: Liberated Intelligence & Analysis for LIA
Predictably Well for Good Days
Santech for SanText