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Each year, the Council canvasses the region for the most distinguishedpublic and private technology-oriented companies, and the Tech 50 awards eventhonors those companies that demonstrated the strongest growth and advancementin product or sales success, financial strength, corporate citizenship, jobgrowth and retention and innovative product or technology. All applicants aresubjected to scoring by the Pittsburgh office of PricewaterhouseCoopers.
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A complete listing of this year's Tech 50 follows within specific categorydescriptions. Category leaders are listed at the top of each category.
Advanced Manufacturing
The advanced manufacturing cluster typically encompasses industries thatare largely automated and that use a high degree of process controls, such ascomputer-numerical controllers, robotics, advanced IT systems and otherautomated processes.
Information Technology
Companies in this category design and/or produce computer peripheralequipment, printed circuit boards, semiconductors and related hardware.Companies also are engaged in software development, computer programming,Internet and telecommunications products or services.
Life Sciences
Companies in this category deliver products or services that includemedical instruments, devices and pharmaceuticals. Companies also are engagedin health services, bioresearch, agricultural products and services and theenvironmental life sciences. Companies that develop software oriented towardthe delivery of medical procedures or diagnoses also fall under this category.
Green Tech (new category for 2008)
Companies in this category ensure a cleaner tomorrow powered with diverse,technologically advanced and efficient sources of energy. This category alsoincludes companies that produce goods or offer services that enable theircustomers to reduce their impact on the environment.
Rising Star
Entrepreneurial companies in this category include firms whose products orservices offer unique or promising technologies and which are poised forfuture strong growth. Companies in this category must have been incorporatedwithin the last three years.
High Rise (new category for 2008)
The new Tech 50 High Rise category includes companies that havedemonstrated long periods of sustained growth and whose names are venerablebrands within the region, the country or the world. These companies are thestalwarts of the technology community in southwestern Pennsylvania.
Service Provider
Companies in this category provide operational or infrastructure productsor services that enable client technology companies to succeed in their marketniche.
CEO of the Year
The CEO of any company within any of the Tech 50 entry categories iseligible for this award.
This year's Tech 50 featured speaker was Regis McKenna, who according tothe San Jose Mercury News is one of the 100 people who made Silicon Valleywhat it is today. McKenna has written and lectured extensively on the socialand market effects of technological change advancing innovations in marketingtheories and practices. Born and raised in Pittsburgh, McKenna worked with anumber of entrepreneurial start-ups during their formation years including:America Online, Apple, Compaq, Electronic Arts, Genentech, Intel, Lotus,Microsoft, National Semiconductor, Silicon Graphics, 3COM and many others.McKenna helped launch some of the most important technological innovations ofthe last 30 years including the first microprocessor, the first personalcomputer and the first recombinant DNA genetically engineered product. McKennahas written five books on technology business strategies and marketing, and hehas appeared on "NightLine," "The Jim Lehrer Report," and "The Today Show."
The event partner for this year's Tech 50 was Morgan Lewis. Event sponsorsincluded Catalyst Connection, Highmark, the Pittsburgh Life SciencesGreenhouse, PNC and PricewaterhouseCoopers.
The Pittsburgh Technology Council is the first and one of the largestregional technology trade associations in the United States with nearly 1,400member companies within its geographic territory of 13 counties insouthwestern Pennsylvania. Its mission is to contribute to the success of theregion's technology businesses.Category finalists include: Respironics, Inc. (category winner) All Water Systems, Inc. CardiacAssist, Inc. Data Science Automation, Inc. Neuro Kinetics, Inc. Omni Prepaid Group, LLC/Gift Cards.com LLC The Proud Company Tollgrade Communications, Inc.
SOURCE Pittsburgh Technology Council
