Governor Announces 2003 Thomas Edison and Emerging Technology Award Winners
COLUMBUS, OHIO (October 20, 2003) - Governor Bob Taft today announced that LexisNexis of Dayton will receive the 2003 Thomas Edison Award during a ceremony at the United States Air Force Museum in Dayton on Tuesday, October 21, 2003. In addition, eight small Ohio businesses will also be recognized with Emerging Technology Awards.
"Ohio's leadership in technological innovation rests on the continued efforts of technology-based businesses such as those receiving Edison and Emerging Technology Awards," Taft said. "I commend these companies on their outstanding achievements through the creation and cultivation of new emerging technologies. They serve as examples of the businesses we are trying to grow with Ohio's Third Frontier."
Edison Award winner LexisNexis, an online legal research system, is a global leader in comprehensive and authoritative legal, news and business information and tailored applications. LexisNexis unites strong brands, pioneering technologies and premium information for customers in the legal, corporate, government and academic markets, doing business in 100 countries with 14,000 employees worldwide. In September, the company announced that it will build a new facility in Springfield. It is estimated to create more than 80 new jobs by 2007.
The Edison Award recognizes an organization's global leadership in fostering or implementing innovation and in positively utilizing technology to impact its operation and the community.
The Emerging Technology Awards recognize Ohio firms that are making valuable progress in advancing existing technologies, as well as companies that are on the cutting edge in pursuing new and emerging technological developments. The Emerging Technology Award winners are as follows:
Brain Actuated Technologies, Inc. (Yellowsprings)
Gene Express, Inc. (Toledo)
Copernicus Therapeutics, Inc. (Cleveland)
Mound Laser & Phototonics Center, Inc. (Miamisburg)
Cornerstone Research Group (Dayton)
The Edgington Company, Inc. (Avon Lake)
GeneBact Biotechnologies (Athens)
SOFCo-EFS Holdings LLC (Alliance)
The Third Frontier Project is Taft's $1.6 billion job creation program to expand Ohio's high-tech research capabilities and promote start-up companies to create high-paying jobs. It is the state's largest-ever economic development investment and has received bi-partisan support from the Ohio Legislature. The final part of the Third Frontier Project, a $500 million bond program up for voter approval in November, would allow the state to allocate $50 million annually over the next 10 years to attract top research talent to Ohio institutions, help with the development and commercialization of new products and create new good jobs for Ohioans.
