12 honored at PBN-R.I. EDC-Tech Collective gala

Judging the 2007 Rhode Island Innovation Awards affords me the opportunity to gain insight into some of the most interesting companies and people in the state. It is an invigorating process.

Architects seek plenty of input for projects: In the normal course of business, an architect’s day starts with a client, an idea for a structure, a budget and the directive: Draw this up so we can start moving dirt and swinging hammers. But drawing plans for a new building to plop onto the landscape is not all that architecture can and should be, according to Charlie Cannon, a co-founder of LOCAL Architecture Research Design, winner of this year’s Collaborative Innovation Leader Award.

Son’s asthma troubles inspired textile maker: Even as the founder and CEO of a startup business, Gary Goldberg doesn’t have any problems sleeping at night. And thanks to his company, CleanBrands LLC, neither do his customers.

State-backed fund sees private help as crucial: Carrying the torch of innovation for Rhode Island is an organization that searches for and detects innovative leadership, creativity and vision in individuals and companies. The Slater Technology Fund, the state-backed, seed-stage investor, has a decade-long history of investing in innovative businesses, but in the last two years, it has made a point of focusing its resources on the best and brightest people with cutting-edge, life-altering technologies.

Brown team has done cutting-edge research: Adam Standley, a candidate for an M.S. in entrepreneurship and innovation, with an aerospace engineering degree already under his belt, Standley seizes every opportunity to tell friends, acquaintances or colleagues about the semiconductor research he is doing at Brown University with engineering Prof. Eric Chason and Ph.D. candidate Jae Wook Shit, to develop a less costly solar cell.

RISD grads’ Web site aims to help designers: Once the Ecolect site is launched, designers will have a valuable tool to assist them in making their projects, or their clients’ projects, more sustainable.

Aunt’s plight inspired a very unusual idea: Innovation isn’t a new idea for Robert A. Rabiner – he’s a serial entrepreneur who has led medical device companies and held executive positions at several others, addressing major problems such as stroke and cardiovascular disease. But his most recent work, at his newest company, IlluminOss Medical Inc., began a little closer to home

Monthly events, blog connecting workers: Brian Jepson had attempted to form a number of groups before the Providence Geeks, but they never really went anywhere. Maybe it’s a change in the “geek” culture, or maybe it’s the way the group runs its monthly meetings, but this time, it’s working.

The Providence Business News regularly celebrates the best of Rhode Island’s business community. Our most recent celebration, the 2007 Rhode Island Innovation Awards, is another example of PBN’s continuing commitment to the region.