Ben Franklin Announces Innovation Award Winners

BETHLEHEM, Pa. - April 16, 2014 - PRLog -- The Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania (http://www.nep.benfranklin.org/) has announced the winners of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Innovation Awards. Winners will be honored at the Ben Franklin i xchange event, scheduled for 5:30 PM on Tuesday, May 6^th at the Zoellner Arts Center at Lehigh University.

The registration fee for the i xchange is $65 in advance or $75 the day of the event. Click here to REGISTER.

The 2014 Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania Innovation Awards winners are:

Entrepreneurial Achievement - Saladax Biomedical, Inc., Bethlehem

Kevin Harter, President and CEO

Incubator Graduate - Viddler, Inc., Bethlehem
Donna DeMarco, Co-Founder

Product Innovation - XiGo Nanotools, Bethlehem
Sean Race, CEO

Innovative Application of Technology - Vitrius Technologies, Wilkes-Barre

Patrick Son, CEO and Founder

Manufacturing Achievement - Cambridge-Lee Industries LLC, Reading
Andrea Funk, CEO

Special Achievement - Senator John R. Gordner and Senator John P. Blake

Partnership - Governor Dick Thornburgh

The i xchange is a premier business technology networking event in northeastern Pennsylvania. Last year, more than 550 attended, and even more are expected this year.

The i xchange keynote will be presented by Jeff Hoffman. A seasoned veteran of seven start-ups, including the highly successful internet company Priceline.com, Hoffman will share techniques that increase innovation and operational efficiency for both early-stage and established companies in today’s markets.

About the Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania:

The Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania creates and retains highly paid, sustainable jobs by linking early-stage technology-based firms and established manufacturers with experts, universities, funding, and other resources to help them prosper through innovation. It is part of an award-winning, four-center economic development initiative of the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development and is funded by the Ben Franklin Technology Development Authority. The Ben Franklin Technology Partners has returned $3.60 to the Pennsylvania treasury for every $1.00 invested in the program.