NorTech celebrated seven Northeast Ohio companies last week at its 13th
annual NorTech Innovation Awards. The companies were recognized for developing new technologies that contribute to the economic success of the region.
“Innovation is critical in sustaining U.S. competitiveness, especially in this constantly changing global marketplace,” says NorTech CEO Rebecca Bagley. “We want to really highlight these innovations. Our goal is to create jobs, attract capital and generate a long-term economic impact in the region.”
The awards were given out in six categories: advanced energy; advanced materials; biosciences; flexible electronics; instrumentation, controls and electronics; and water technologies.
Local companies honored include
Quasar Energy Group, which paired with
Forest City Enterprises to build an anaerobic digestion facility on a brownfield in Collinwood. The facility, known as
Collinwood BioEnergy, takes organic waste and turns it into electricity for
Cleveland Public Power.
The system generates 1.3 megawatts of electricity per day and saves 42,000 wet tons of trash from landfills each year. Quasar has created more than 60 Ohio jobs with this technology.
Cardioinsight, formed by a
CWRU professor and two engineering students, was honored for its development of a lightweight vest that aids in the diagnosis and treatment of electrical disorders in the heart. Cardioinsight paired with
Nottingham Spirk to design and develop the vest.
“It’s a great partnership,” says Bagley. “They have a prototype that works and is also comfortable for the patient.”
Cleveland HeartLab, a spinoff from the
Cleveland Clinic, developed clinical tests for myeloperoxidase, which is a plaque in the blood that indicates patients’ risks for heart attacks. Cleveland HeartLab has created more than 100 jobs since its start in 2010 and revenue has grown by 100 percent each year.
Other companies honored were
NASA Glen Research Center,
Akron Surface Technologies,
Codonics and
SNS Nano Fiber Technology.
Source: Rebecca Bagley
Writer: Karin Connelly