Category Archives: Innovation

Congrats to Dakota County Tekne Award Winners

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We are pleased to see  couple of Dakota County based businesses received accolades last night at the Tekne Awards. Thomson Reuters was recognized for their leadership in the technology service and consulting; Thomson Reuters was mentioned again with Maverick Software Consulting for their innovative collaboration…

TECHNOLOGY SERVICES & CONSULTING AWARD RECIPIENTS

The Established Company recipient was Eagan-based Thomson Reuters. Thomson Reuters Checkpoint has been the industry-leader for online information for tax and accounting professionals for more than a decade. Checkpoint blends cutting-edge technology, expert editorial insight, primary source materials, time-saving productivity tools, online learning, and news updates all in an integrated fashion that adds intelligence to what might otherwise be content and software. On June 13, 2011, the latest evolution of Checkpoint was launched. The features include a redesigned user interface and re-factored underlying code as well as new functionality to enhance users’ experience. The new features and superior web design will continue to widen the gap between Checkpoint and the competition.

INNOVATIVE COLLABORATION OF THE YEAR AWARD RECIPIENT

The Innovative Collaboration of the Year Award was presented to Maverick Software Consulting in Lakeville. Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU), Maverick Software Consulting, Advance IT Minnesota, Thomson Reuters and Digital River have created a first-of-its-kind academia-meets-corporate America partnership, bringing together top computer science students from campuses across Minnesota with corporations seeking local software development and software testing. The innovative collaboration provides corporate partners with top student talent as a successful, proven option for cost-effective software development and testing services and an experienced workforce after graduation. It also provides students real-world experience working in the field with cutting-edge technology and, typically, a job offer prior to graduation. This collaboration creates a motivated, skilled and productive workforce that sustains and expands Minnesota’s technology-based economy.

MOBILE & COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AWARD RECIPIENT
The Mobile & Communication Technologies Award went to GeaCom, Inc. Duluth-based GeaCom was founded in 2007 by Mat Johnson who, after years of studying communication theory and working with high technology innovators, recognized a need for an improved method for communication theory as well as communicating across language barriers. Johnson’s resulting solution, Phrazer, is a handheld, interactive communication system with a touch screen interface that enables the collection and delivery of critical information. After identifying what language a patient speaks, Phrazer collects his/her information, medical history, symptoms and complaints and then summarizes it into the caregiver’s language that can be accessed on the device or through a facility’s electronic health records (EHR) system.

You can get a full list of winners from the Tekne Awards web site.

Dakota County named a Smart21 Community

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For the third year in a row, Dakota County, led by Dakota Future, has been named a Smart21 Community by the Intelligent Community Forum. It’s exciting and inspiring.

This is an international award, and the competition this year is even tougher that in the past…

The 2012 honorees include 4 communities from Europe, 10 from North America, 3 from Latin America, and 4 from Asia. Over half are communities that appear on the list for the first time.

The focus this year is Platforms for Innovation. We have a lot of innovation to celebrate in Dakota Future:

Efforts like these have helped secure our standing. And we’re continuing the efforts with our Dakota Innovation Network – an efforts to promote innovation in participating businesses.

Here’s a list of other Smart21 Communities

  • Arlington County, Virginia, USA
  • Austin, Texas, USA
  • Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
  • Columbus Region, Ohio, USA
  • Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
  • Dakota County, Minnesota, USA
  • Danville, Virginia, USA
  • Durango, Mexico
  • Frankfurt, Hesse, Germany
  • Heraklion, Crete, Greece
  • Ipswich, Queensland, Australia
  • New Taipei City, Taiwan
  • Oulu, Finland
  • Prospect, South Australia, Australia
  • Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
  • Riverside, California, USA
  • Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada
  • Stratford, Ontario, Canada
  • Taichung City, Taiwan
  • Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas, Mexico
  • Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Science & Technology in MN Businesses

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The Minnesota Science and Technology Authority recently posted results from a survey across Minnesota on the extent to which science and technology drive Minnesota’s economy. They look at what is happening with science and technology based businesses and how what’s happening in local businesses relates to the State’s Science and Technology plan.

Please check out the full presentation for details but here are a couple of highlights:

  • Many see research and innovation as an opportunity for Minnesota
  • Most felt a strong need for a strategic plan – although only one third had heard about the Minnesota’s Science & Technology Plan

Rosemount Clean Energies – bringing biofuel to Dakota County

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Dakota County Tribune Business Weekly recently reported on Dakota County’s latest venture in renewable energy. Apparently a private company has taken over the 50-acre industrial site in Rosemont.

According to the Tribune…

The 52-year-old Yocum Oil Company embarked on the reclamation project of a 50-acre site just east of Flint Hills Resources this year and expects to have Rosemount Clean Energies significantly operational in less than three months, according to Tim Yocum, one of the company’s principals and chief manager.

The plan is to focus on biofuels…

When it is complete, the refinery that will focus on biofuel injection blending and other clean energy products will be the only one of its kind and scale in the Upper Midwest, according to the company.

“Biofuels are here to stay,” said Yocum, who is president of the Minnesota Petroleum Marketers Association. “Canada just announced a 2 percent biodiesel requirement. Minnesota is going to 10 percent next spring. This new terminal will allow greater distribution of biofuels right where crops are grown and biofuels are produced. Combine this with our refineries’ ability to produce ultra-low sulfur diesel from North Dakota and Canadian crude, and we have opened a huge channel for energy independence through local supply.”

Here is a description of the business from the Rosemount Clean Energies’ web site…

Rosemount Clean Energies’ clean energy facility contains nearly half a million barrels of storage capacity and resources to receive and ship petroleum-related products by rail cars, trucks, tanks and pipeline. Rosemount Clean Energies serves large and small petroleum customers through its testing and production capabilities that include biodiesel fuel injection blending and the distribution of normal refined diesel, ethanol, waste oil recycling, asphalt, #6 oil, propane, diesel exhaust fluid, compressed natural gas and liquefied natural gas.

Proud of the Dakota County Tekne Finalists

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We are pleased to see how many Dakota County companies have made the Tekne finalists. According to their web site…

The Tekne Awards honor those who play a significant role in discovering new technologies that educate, improve lifestyles and impact the lives and futures of people living in Minnesota and all over the world. This year marks the award’s twelfth year.

Tekne just announced the finalists for the awards; the awards will be presented on November 3, 2011. The following Dakota County companies are finalists…

State of the Art Healthcare in Burnsville

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Dakota County’s Fairview Ridges Hospital in Burnsville is a leading cardiac care hospital. According to Dakota County Business Tribune Weekly…

Fairview Ridges Hospital in Burnsville, which opened a catheterization laboratory in 2009, is only the second hospital in the state to do so. The lab, an examination room that uses state-of-the-art imaging technology, allowing physicians to see inside heart arteries, has already performed 650 angiograms and 16 emergency angioplasties.

Fairview Ridges is a leading hospital in cardiac care, winning several awards of distinction from HealthGrades, the nation’s most trusted source of health care information, including:

  • Five-Star Rated for Treatment of Heart Attack for three consecutive years (2009-2011)
  • Five-Star Rated for Treatment of Heart Failure for two consecutive years (2010-2011)
  • Five-Star rated for Treatment of Stroke for three consecutive years (2009-2011)
  • Top 10 percent in the Nation for Treatment of Stroke for two consecutive years (2010-2011)

Innovative Eagan Entreprenuer Makes Deal With Burnsville-Based Chain

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Mouli Engineering Inc, based in Dakota County, has more than 20 years’ experience of engineering experience in design, parts supply, reliability, yield and failure analysis. This Week Live reports good news for Mouli…

Only months after launching its plug-in solar energy systems for homes and businesses, Mouli Engineering Inc. struck a deal with a major distributor to sell its patented product worldwide.

Northern Tool, also located in Dakota County, is an international hardware retail chain store. They have agreed to sell Mouli’s system known as solar pod online. Again This Week reports…

“It seems like there’s a lot of these out there, but this is the first true plug and play system available,” said Travis Johnson, merchandise manager for Northern Tool and Equipment.

Johnson said the product’s simple installation and ability to expand was appealing to company executives.

With some simple rewiring by an electrician, the pods can be plugged into a home or commercial building’s electrical outlet. Installation takes only a few hours, said Mouli Vaidyanathan, founder and president of Mouli Engineering.

“That’s the innovative aspect of it,” he said.

Dakota County is a Top Digital County

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The Center for Digital Government’s Digital Counties and the National Association of Counties (NACo) survey US counties to identify best electronic practices among counties nationwide, regardless of size. According to Digital Communities…

“The Digital Counties Survey identifies the very best examples of how counties are aligning technology to support strategic priorities and create crucial operational and administrative efficiencies,” said NACo Executive Director Larry E. Naake. “Especially important during these tough economic times, counties across the country are using innovative technologies to reduce county operations costs and enhance service delivery.”

We are pleased to announce that Dakota County ranked number 2 for counties with population between 250,000-499,999!