Two Alameda-based companies, Abbott Diabetes Care and Deep Ocean Exploration & Research (DOER), received Innovation Awards at last week’s third annual East Bay Innovation Awards Ceremony in Oakland. Abbott Diabetes Care received the award for Life Sciences and DOER received the award for Engineering and Design. Natel Energy was recognized as a finalist in the Clean Tech category. The awards honor the East Bay’s innovation leaders in eight different categories. Three of the 16 finalists were from Alameda, out of 178 nominations.
Robert Ford, Senior Vice President, accepted the Life Sciences award for Abbott Diabetes Care. This was the second time in three years that the Life Sciences Award went to an Alameda-based company, with stent maker Penumbra Inc. winning in 2013. Abbott Diabetes Care is a medical device manufacturer specializing in a ground-breaking glucose monitoring system, which eliminates the painful and invasive need—especially for children—to routinely prick a finger for blood testing.
Liz Taylor, President and CEO, accepted the Engineering and Design Award for DOER. DOER works closely with prominent science research institutions throughout the world to make customized, technologically advanced aquatic equipment, from underwater vehicles and robots, to cameras, manipulators, and lamps.
Alameda-based Natel Energy, a Clean Tech finalist, is scaling up production of an advanced hydro-turbine that cost-effectively generates electricity from small dams and irrigation canals with minimal environmental impact.
The East Bay Economic Development Alliance (East Bay EDA) and the San Francisco Business Times announced the winners at a gala event held at the Fox Theater in Oakland on February 19, 2015.
“It was a great evening for Alameda, highlighting Alameda businesses as an impressive source of innovation and leadership in the region,” said Trish Herrera Spencer, Mayor of Alameda, who was on hand at the ceremony along with Councilwoman Marilyn Ezzy Aschcraft. “We are proud of these businesses’ achievements and that they chose to locate and do business in Alameda. We believe Alameda’s location and business synergies make it a unique and sustainable choice for innovative companies.”
For more information, please visit: www.eastbayeda.org/iawards.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEF7yUHaW40&list=UUvhy8zYQfCZkbPL1huBiZ8w
