United Technologies Receives 2009 Innovation Excellence Award from Connecticut Technology Council
Connecticut Economic Resource Center Named Public Policy Leader of the Year
EAST HARTFORD, Conn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– The Connecticut Technology Council (CTC) presented the 2009 Innovation Excellence Award to United Technologies Corporation at an annual meeting held December 3 at surgical device manufacturer Covidien in North Haven. CTC named the Connecticut Economic Resource Center (CERC) as its 2009 Public Policy Leader of the Year.
Two retiring CTC Board members were also honored at the annual meeting with the 2009 Volunteer of the Year award: John Kreitler, a partner with Hartford law firm Shipman & Goodwin LLP, and Vincent Kiernan, a partner at the law firm of Edwards Angel Palmer & Dodge LLP. Both were cited for their tireless efforts to support the Council over the past six years as volunteers and consistent supporters of programs and efforts to expand Connecticut’s entrepreneurial economy.
During the annual meeting, CTC announced a plan to increase its use of grass roots political action to present the positive role of technology-based job creation in the state’s economic recovery. “With a campaign for Governor underway and the legislature making large resource decisions to handle an ongoing budget problem, it is critically important that our community be bold and persistent to keep Connecticut focused on our ability to function as a world class innovation-oriented economy,” noted CTC President and CEO Matthew Nemerson.
The Innovation Excellence Award, now in its sixth year, is given to the CTC member that has displayed technology leadership in its industry, grabbed increasing market share and been recognized for innovation by peer or trade groups and industry analysts.
United Technologies, the state’s largest private employer, was cited for its significant investment in the most advanced technologies, innovative thinking and disciplined research in support of its business units.
Chris Kalish, Chairman of the Connecticut Technology Board, and an executive at General Electric who directs GE Edgelab in Stamford, applauded UTC for its firm commitment to fostering a “culture of innovation” through its research centers in East Hartford Connecticut and Shanghi China.
Previous winners of CTC’s Innovation Excellence Award include: ATMI, Inc of Danbury, Pitney Bowes of Stamford, FuelCell Energy of Danbury, Open Solutions Inc of Glastonbury and Sonalysts, Inc of Waterford.
The Public Policy Leader of the Year award recognizes the leadership of an individual or organization in furthering the technology-based set of economic development polices CTC supports. The Council cited a series of CERC benchmarking reports called “A Comparative Analysis of Innovation and Technology,” that assess Connecticut’s capacity relative to other states in the areas of competitiveness and innovation, and analyze trends in Connecticut. CTC said CERC’s initiatives sparked the kind of dialogue and debate that is needed to move the state to a stronger economic position in a competitive world.
About the Connecticut Technology Council
The Connecticut Technology Council is the state’s industry association for the technology sector. CTC’s mission is to be the catalyst for innovation and growth. CTC seeks to identify and connect the entire technology community, works to increase innovation that leads to entrepreneurship and job creation in all size firms and is a strong advocate for specific programs as well as a public understanding of the need for a world class innovation environment in Connecticut. The Council produces many events that help, bring together and recognize achievement from start-ups to the state’s fastest growing companies. For more information, visit www.ct.org.