2008 Coverage
Chicago Innovation Awards 2008
Read Full ArticleInnovate Now
For the last several years, the Chicago Innovation Awards have celebrated the spirit and accomplishments of innovation in Chicagoland. The Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, through our InnovateNow! initiative, is proud to once again partner with the Chicago Innovation Awards to announce the commencement of the 2008 Innovation Awards process.
Last year's Awards were a huge success and we are focused on continuing those efforts. We encourage your participation in the 2008 Chicago Innovation Awards. You can do this by nominating your most innovative new product or service. The Chicago Innovation Awards shine a bright light on the creative spirit of the region, and media partnership with Business Week Chicago and WBBM Newsradio 780 assures widespread public attention. The nomination deadline is July 31 with the Awards Ceremony scheduled to take place on October 27 at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago. Information about the awards nomination and ceremony is attached, and the nomination form with additional details can be found at chicagoinnovationawards.com. Innovation is central to business growth in a global arena and no region is in a better position than ours to seize this opportunity. I hope you will nominate one of your innovations as well as join us at this wonderful event.
Innovation - Chicago Style
Read Full ArticleBusinessWeek
Six years ago, Thomas Kuczmarski, founder and chief executive of consultants Kuczmarski & Associates, teamed up with veteran Chicago business journalist Dan Miller to celebrate innovative entrepreneurs and companies by crowning 10 of them annually with a Chicago Innovation Award. Since then, the contest's judges have occasionally become worried that interest would slack off. Far from it. In 2008, organizers received a record 307 nominations. That's up from 254 last year and 90 in 2002.
This year's winners are as impressive as ever, ranging from Abbott Laboratories (ABT) metro Chicago's biggest company measured by stock value to PrepMe, a 2005 startup with only 10 full-time employees. The winners' creations include Internet services, of course. Just as impressive, they've also discovered ways to improve gear or processes that go back centuries.
The cream of the 2008 crop will be honored on Oct. 28 in Chicago's Goodman Theatre, at a ceremony underwritten by major sponsors IBM (IBM), McGuireWoods, and Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co. (WWY) Many of the other candidates won something this year as well: 75 got a chance to take part "for free" in an executive seminar on innovation at Northwestern's Kellogg School of Management, a full-day tutorial that otherwise would have cost $2,200 a person.
Organizers will start accepting nominations for the eighth annual Chicago Innovation Awards late next spring.
For exclusive video profiles of all 10 winners of this year's Chicago Innovation Awards, go to our Web site, businessweek.com/innovate
Open Call for Chicago Innovation Awards Nominations
Read Full ArticleREUTERS
CHICAGO--(Business Wire)-- Businesses and nonprofit organizations throughout the Chicago region are invited to compete in the region's premier competition honoring product and service innovation, the Chicago Innovation Awards.
The Chicago Innovation Awards recognize businesses and organizations that have embraced innovation through new products, services, processes or business models. Founded by Tom Kuczmarski, CEO of the Chicago-based innovation firm Kuczmarski & Associates and prominent local journalist Dan Miller, the awards have grown steadily since they were established in 2002. This year, BusinessWeek magazine is the exclusive print media partner for the awards and WBBM Newsradio 780 is the broadcast partner.
"The spirit of these awards is to foster innovation throughout the region," said Kuczmarski. "A great way to do that is to recognize and honor organizations that are making the effort to change lives through innovation."
Winners will be featured in a special section of Business Week, on WBBM Newsradio 780, and honored at a special reception and awards ceremony Oct. 27 at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago.
In addition, 75 nominees will be awarded scholarships to a day-long executive education program on the techniques of innovation at Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management, education partner of the awards.
Past winners have included firms such as Abbott Labs, Radio Flyer, and Motorola, as well as small firms such as driFIRE and Experiencia Immersive Learning Center.
7th Annual Chicago Innovation Awards
Read Full ArticleWorld Business Chicago
It is time once again to invite you to nominate an innovative new product or service for the 2008 Chicago Innovation Awards.
Nominees can be high-tech, low-tech or no-tech; for-profit or not-for-profit; big products from large companies or small products from small companies. The sole requirement is innovation.
Last year, winners came from a variety of industries. Companies that took home honors included Abbott Laboratories, Radio Flyer, Threadless and driFire, a fire retardant (FR) performance garment producer. driFire was awarded for their ingenuity in FR performance wear -- keeping firefighters, military and first responders not only safe from flames, but also comfortable and dry.
You can nominate any innovative new product, service or process from your own organization or others. Nominations are accepted from any organization located in the greater Chicago area -- including southeastern Wisconsin, southwestern Michigan and northwestern Indiana. The nomination deadline is July 31.
The nomination form is designed to respect the time of busy people. You can find it at: www.chicagoinnovationawards.com.
Criteria for nominees are products or services that have: -- Been introduced since January 1, 2006 -- Perhaps created a whole new category of business (e.g., electronic stock trading) -- Triggered a "me-too" response from competitors -- Changed or elevated customer expectations (e.g., overnight package delivery) -- Solved unmet customer or consumer needs -- Received market support (number of users) or financial success (revenues, although not necessarily profits)
The 2008 Chicago Innovation Award winners will be honored at an awards ceremony on Oct. 27 at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago. All nominees will also be honored at a reception and networking event in September where they will be recognized for their commitment to innovation.
The 2008 awards welcome three Gold Sponsors: IBM, McGuire Woods and Wrigley; and supporting sponsors Interocean, SIM Chicago, Microsoft, Slack Barshinger, The Goodman Theatre, Maggiano's and Boka+Landmark Restaurant Group.
More than a dozen business and civic groups endorse the Innovation Awards, including the Illinois Venture Capital Association, World Business Chicago, the Executives' Club of Chicago, AeA and the Illinois Technology Association.