The Irish Technology Leadership Group and The Irish Times have announced the seven finalists for the second annual Irish Technology Leaders Silicon Valley Awards 2009.

The awards ceremony is scheduled for 14 April at Silicon Valley’s Stanford University. The Hon. Mary Coughlan T.D., Ireland’s Trade Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister is set to deliver the keynote address.

The seven Irish technology firms named as finalists in the competition are:

• Ammado Internet Services Ltd.: Ammado is a global online community that connects socially responsible companies, nonprofit organizations and individuals dedicated to positive change on a global and local level;
• Customer Minds: Customer Minds is a technology company that provides an online, self-service platform for managing client data, marketing channels and reporting;
• Firecomms Ltd.: Firecomms is a semiconductor company that develops high-speed optical components to drive IPTV home networks and in-car multimedia entertainment systems;
• Lincor Solutions Ltd.: Lincor provides integrated, bedside point-of-care hospital computing solutions that lets medical staff access clinical information systems and allows patients to use digital entertainment and education services;
• Open Hydro Group Ltd.: Open Hydro designs and manufactures marine turbines for generating renewable energy from tidal streams;
• Powervation Ltd.: Powervation supplies semiconductor control systems for energy-control management in information processing systems;
• Wavebob Ltd.: Wavebob develops technology to convert ocean energy into useful power.

The Irish Technology Leadership Group is also adding a new category — renewable energy — to its awards this year. The award will go to the renewable energy firm judged to have the most innovative technology or approach to help it break into the mainstream. Both Open Hydro and Wavebob are shortlisted for the new Renewable Energy Award.

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