The 2015 Innovation Awards Honors to 4 Memphis Organizations

Memphis, TN, September 26, 2015 --(PR.com)-- Hosted by MBQ Inside Memphis Business magazine and University of Memphis Fogelman College of Business and Economics, the 2015 Innovation Awards were distributed on September 24, 2015. Master of Ceremonies, Todd Richardson and the University of Memphis announced the 2015 Innovation Award winners at a breakfast held at the University of Memphis. The Awards honored people, inventions, products, and concepts, developed locally in Memphis. The innovations range in a number of fields, including medical, social innovation, agriculture, and technology. Over 30 nominees were considered by a panel of judges to evaluate the final honorees.

This year’s honorees include, Chuck Dun of Tru-D SmartUVC for a device that disinfects hospital rooms with UV-C light. The “robots” emit an automated dose of UC lights that ensure a 99.9% reduction in pathogens. University of Tennessee Health Science Center professor, Dr. Lisa Jennings was honored for the foundation of CirQuest Labs and Ariste Medical. Her multi-service lab connects pharmaceutical and device industries, while reducing costs and complexity. Memphis has a growing medical innovation sector, attracting companies, hospitals, and a network of medical professionals building a strong base of resources. The other honorees also have strong roots in Memphis history and culture: one is for music and the other is agriculture. The Levitt Shell was honored for the recent revival and success of the Shell concert series, providing entertainment and culture for the community at no cost. It has also aided in the further revitalization of other burgeoning arts areas. AgSmarts has developed a system of hardware and software that helps farmers measure data directly from their fields, utilize intelligent algorithms and deliver recommendations via a cloud-based web portal. AgSmarts products minimize waste and maximize efficiency to help meet demands of a growing population in a sustainable way. The AgTech industry is growing, with local Memphis BioWorks adding a program, AgLaunch, to spur more Ag innovation statewide.

Read this issue (Oct/Nov 2015, Volume IX, No. 7of Inside Memphis Business for more information on innovation in Memphis. The issue includes features of nominees and winners, and industry insight on factors of innovation.