San Diego's Most Innovative New Products of 2012

Editor's Note: CONNECT released the following announcement on Dec. 7, 2012.

CONNECT wrapped up an exciting, action-packed week with the announcement of the hottest new technology products to come out of San Diego at its 25th anniversary of the Most Innovative New Products (MIP) Awards. 

The "red carpet" event—held at the Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines Hotel and emceed this year by Kai Ryssdal, host and senior editor of Marketplace, public radio's program on business and the economy—was attended by more than 800 of the region's top business leaders, entrepreneurs, researchers and capital providers.

"Over the past 25 years, MIP has been a leader in talent-spotting, recognizing promising emerging technologies that have gone on to have global impact. Today once again we have celebrated San Diego's strong tradition of developing and successfully launching groundbreaking innovation across a virtually every innovation sector." said CONNECT CEO Duane Roth. 

The MIP Award winners were selected through a rigorous judging process from a pool of more than 100 applicants that represented a broad range of companies within nine categories including: action and sport technologies; aerospace and security technologies; clean technology; communications and IT; hardware and general technology; life sciences — diagnostics and research tools; life sciences — medical products; software; and mobile apps. 

The 2012 MIP Award winners are:

Action and Sport Technologies: PEAR Sports for PEAR Square One

PEAR's intelligence-based customizable workouts give users the ability to train with a world-class coach. Along with PEAR's heart rate monitor, foot pod, and earphones, the PEAR Square One acts as a personal trainer, delivering real-time coaching and feedback while users listen to music. Users can then view results, track progress, and share performance with friends post-workout.

Aerospace and Security Technologies: Cubic Defense Application for DCID-TALON 

DCID (Dismounted Combat Identification) is a rifle-mounted laser system that prevents fratricide on the battlefield by allowing users to instantly identify their friends in the fog of war. It is made possible by an innovative breakthrough – a Quantum Well Modulator (QWM) – that modulates reflected laser energy with a secure "Friend" code when interrogated. 

Clean Technology: Atlantis Technologies for RDI desalination system 

Atlantis Technologies developed a patented low-cost industrial waste water desalination system based on the patented Radial Deionizing super capacitor technology platform (RDI) and evolved from over $5,400,000 of funding by the US Government (DARPA & US Army TARDEC). The RDI system can desalinate industrial waste water from oil, gas, and mining operations for 40 – 70 percent less cost than state-of-the-art technologies. 

Communications & IT: TrellisWare Technologies for Cheetah CUB 

TrellisWare's TW-400 'CUB' unit is the world's smallest and most capable Tactical Mobile Ad-Hoc Network (T-MANET) product. Designed to support fully transparent self-forming, self-healing networks in virtually any kind of RF environment, CUB is an all-in-one transmitter/receiver/relay offering multi-channel push to talk voice, IP data and streaming video services, and position location services. 

Hardware and General Technology: Logic PD for DM3730 Torpedo + Wireless System on Module (SOM)

The Logic PD Torpedo + Wireless SOM leverages the consumer product technologies of Texas Instruments' DM3730 processor, Linux OS, Android OS, and wireless connectivity that is sustained by Logic PD for the lifecycle of regulated market products. The dime-sized Torpedo + Wireless SOM with FCC certification allows OEMs to develop user-centered products with the fastest boot-time for life-critical applications. 

Life Sciences — Diagnostics and Research Tools: Life Technologies for Ion Proton Sequencer 

The Ion Proton System is a high-throughput benchtop sequencing system that will enable the $1000 genome. The system utilizes semiconductor technology to sequence DNA and RNA bases in a massively paralleled manner. The first semiconductor chip, the Ion PI Chip sequences exomes and transcriptomes in a few hours. The second semiconductor chip, the Ion PII Chip is expected to be available about 6 months following the Ion PI Chip, and is designed to sequence a human-scale genome in a few hours. 

Life Sciences — Medical Products: Amylin Pharmaceuticals for BYDUREON

BYDUREON is the first once-weekly medicine approved by the FDA in January 2012 for the treatment of adults with type 2 diabetes. Biodegradable microspheres provide controlled release of the medicine into the body throughout the week, working not only after meals but whenever blood sugar levels are elevated. 

Software: Independa, Inc. for Independa Integrated CloudCare 

Independa, Inc. provides the leading Integrated CloudCare platform for organizations, professionals and family caregivers to enable elderly care recipients to continue living at the residence of their choice longer, safer and more comfortably. In close collaboration with LG Electronics, Independa has recently introduced the "Senior TV", a world first innovation, enabling critical yet easy to use care management through the viewer's TV, including integrated video chat, email, Facebook, med reminders, photo-sharing, and other functions.

Mobile Apps: LIA: Liberated Intelligence for LIA 

LIA is an enterprise mobile sales enablement platform. Its innovation utilizes a combination of cloud computing power, mobile device capability, and proprietary sales enablement software to replace outdated legacy tools.

CONNECT also honored two individuals, Greg Lucier, Chairman & CEO, Life Technologies, for the Distinguished Contribution Award in Life Science Innovation; and Philanthropist, Malin Burnham, for the Distinguished Contribution Award in Technology Innovation. Honorees of this special award are individuals in San Diego who through business activities and community involvement, have encouraged innovation and diversity of thought, thereby supporting the advancement of San Diego entrepreneurship. 

The MIP Awards this year also featured the debut of "They Came Here"—a commercial representing the most inspiring entrepreneurs that span San Diego's history as a leader in world-changing innovation. The commercial will be used to promote San Diego to scientists, engineers and top talent across all industries to promote San Diego as an ideal location to call home.

This year's event also honors the past winners of the William W. Otterson Award. In memory of CONNECT's first executive director, Bill Otterson, this award is one of the highest honors given to technologies and products developed in San Diego that have demonstrated a significant impact on society worldwide. Honorees include Gen-Probe for PROCLEIX Blood Screening Assay, Intuit for TurboTax, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. for the Predator, Pyxis for MedStation, Cymer for DUV Lithography Lightsource, Hybritech for Tandem PSA Assay, HNC Software, Inc. for Falcon, Agouron Pharmaceuticals for Viracept, IDEC Pharmaceuticals for Rituxan, and Qualcomm for Code Digital Multiple Access (CDMA).

This year's MIP program was sponsored by lead sponsors Life Technologies and Provide Commerce, and supporting sponsors American West Bank, Barney & Barney, Bridgepoint Education, C.W. Driver, Cox Business, Hughes Marino, Invetech, Knobbe Martens, Manpower, Merck, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Qualcomm, SDG&E, Websense and partner KPBS.