Tech Museum of Innovation Awards Unveiled
Staff -- Semiconductor International, 12/1/2001
The first annual Tech Museum of Innovation Awards: Technology Benefiting Humanity program was launched recently in a ceremony attended by a veritable Who's Who of Silicon Valley CEOs and leaders of technology and finance.
The awards celebrate ingenious and humanitarian applications of technology and aim to inspire innovators around the world. The concept was inspired in part by "The State of the Future at the Millennium" report of The Millennium Project of the American Council for the United Nations University, which states that award recognition is an effective way to accelerate scientific breakthroughs and technological applications to improve the human condition.
Applied Materials Inc. (Santa Clara, Calif.), which was the presenting sponsor of the awards, has supported the project since its inception, said CEO James C. Morgan. "As a result, we knew about the U.N. report, and it seemed that there was a need to promote some of the technologies that might not meet a general market need, but could be applied across the world to help in other countries."
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The Tech Museum had to do an annual event aligned with its mission to inspire the innovator in everyone, said Peter Giles, museum president and CEO. "We needed to do something to recognize the global impact and potential of the technologies being developed in Silicon Valley. We must help the semiconductor community understand the tremendous ramifications and potential benefits of the technologies that they're making possible here. We hope that this will enable the semiconductor industry to see the benefits of the things that they are doing in a larger context."
Santa Clara University's Center for Science, Technology, and Society assembled the panels of judges that selected finalists in each of the five award categories. More than 390 individuals, for-profit companies, public and not-for-profit organizations representing 50 countries were considered. Finalists were chosen on the basis of whether their use of technology significantly improves the human condition; the solution addresses a serious problem or challenge; theirs is a noteworthy contribution that surpasses previous solutions; the solution is a novel application that represents a breakthrough; and the use of technology has the potential to serve as an inspiration or model for others.
Winners of the corporate-sponsored awards each received a $50,000 cash honorarium. They included:
- The Freeplay Foundation (South Africa), Nasdaq Stock Market Education Award for radio technology that serves as a lifeline.
- Dr. Chaz M. Holder, president of CZBioMed (Fayetteville, N.C.), Knight Ridder Equality Award for technology that restores patients' quality of life.
- Fabio de Oliveira Rosa, president, IDEAAS (Brazil), Credit Suisse/First Boston Economic Development Award for technology that brings electrification to rural areas.
- Dr. Betsy Dresser, senior vice president and director, Audubon Center for Research and Endangered Species (New Orleans), Intel Environment Award for saving endangered species with biotechnology.
- Joseph DeRisi, assistant professor of biochemistry and biophysics, University of California at San Francisco, JPMorgan Chase Health Award for decoding malaria for a better cure.
