Dept. of Commerce: Governor’s New Products Award Banquet Highlights Engineer and Scientific Achievements

Contact:
Tony Hozeny, Department of Commerce, 608/267-9661

MADISON – Wisconsin businesses and individuals interested in gaining recognition for new product or process development should enter the 35th annual Governor’s New Products Awards Competition.

“New product development is the key to opening new markets around the world, and is also responsible for advances in our overall standard of living,” said Department of Commerce (Commerce) Secretary Mary P. Burke. “The Governor’s New Products Awards Competition helps showcase the important contributions of Wisconsin scientists and engineers to our economic growth and development.”

Governor’s New Products Awards are given in four major categories: mega companies (1,000 or more employees); large companies (500-999 employees); medium companies (50-499 employees); and small companies (up to 49 employees). The program recognizes benefits that come from the research and engineering of new products. It also focuses on rapidly emerging technologies, recognizes the contribution of engineers in new product development, and encourages the pursuit of science and engineering careers.

Complete instructions, official rules, and application materials for the 2006 Governor’s New Products Awards can be found on the Wisconsin Society of Professional Engineers (WSPE) website at www.wspe.org. The entry deadline is February 21, 2006.

Governor Jim Doyle has been invited to attend the awards banquet and present awards. The ceremony will be held Thursday, April 13, 2006 at the SC Grand, Franks Dinner Theater in DePeere.

The Governor’s New Products awards banquet is sponsored by WSPE with support from Commerce, the National Society of Professional Engineers, and the Instrumentation, Systems and Automation Society. For more information about the competition or the awards banquet, contact Dale Swenson, 2006 Governor’s New Products Awards chairman, at 414/343-8452, or dale.swenson@harley-davidson.com