Junkosha revealed the shortlist of eleven entries going through to the final stage of its annual ‘Technology Innovator of the Year Award.’ Each shortlisted candidate will present their entry to the judging committee throughout January, with the winner to be announced in a ceremony in April 2024.
Adjudicated by a panel of highly respected judges chosen for their industry credentials, the winning entrant will be awarded a sum of $25,000 to invest in their worthwhile project. Joe Rowan, chairperson for the awards, explained, “This year’s award has seen an expanded amount of interest from entrants all over the globe, which is a fabulous result following on from the success of the inaugural programme. On review of the candidates’ entries, the judges and I were really pleased with the level of innovation shown. Selecting the shortlist was no easy feat — we had to make some tough decisions along the way. However, we have full confidence that the remaining eleven entries possess all the essential qualities to win.”
Mike Winterling, chief operating officer for Junkosha USA, added, “The Technology Innovator of the Years Awards were set up recognize the innovative work of an individual or team working in the delivery of products used within interventional medical procedures or microwave/mmWave technologies. It is great to see not only the level of interest, but also the high levels of innovation shown by this year’s entrants. Congratulations to those that have been shortlisted to present their entry. I look forward to seeing who wins out of this high caliber list.”
The shortlisted candidates include:
Microwave and mmWave Technologies
Elahe Soltanaghai, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign: Elahe’s research develops a vision of omnipresent sensing for making buildings or cities smart by repurposing the pervasive wireless communication infrastructures (such as Wi-Fi) in every building or city to act as sensors.
Ian Roberts, Wireless Lab at UCLA: Ian leads the Wireless Lab at UCLA, where they conduct theoretical and experimental research on wireless communication and sensing. They use mathematical tools, machine learning and real-world hardware to analyze, model, optimize and prototype wireless systems and solutions.
Michael Hollenbeck, Optisys, Inc.: Optisys specializes in design for metal additive manufacturing, which allows for novel highly integrated waveguide antenna assemblies to be produced at a fraction of the size and weight of traditional waveguide while maintaining the highest performance.
Mona Jarrahi, UCLA: Mona and her research group develop millimeter and sub-mmWave imaging/sensing systems that offer record-high signal-to-noise ratios, enabling 3D hyperspectral imaging of unknown objects in real-time.
Patrick Reynaert, University of Leuven (KU Leuven): Patrick’s academic research group propose polymer fibers for mmWave communication as an alternative to copper wireline and optical for robust, high speed, low-cost, low-power and medium distance communication.
Prof. Anthony Peyton, University of Manchester: Prof. Tony Peyton works to bring improved resolution in non-destructive testing. This work is extended to landmine detection and body scanners. They also have a programme to extend these techniques to scanning for brain degeneration and injuries.
Sabih Chaudhry, Afon Technology Ltd: Afon Technology is developing technology that will enable diabetics and pre-diabetics to better monitor their blood glucose without the pain, discomfort and other side effects associated with current glucose monitoring options.
Wenyao Xu, University at Buffalo: Wenyao and his team have developed a project using advanced AI-driven mmWave technology for skin lesion diagnosis.
Interventional Medical Procedures
Andrew Miller, IQ Endoscopes: Andrew and his team of clinical, med tech and engineering specialists are committed to creating clinically effective, high performance sustainable single use flexible endoscopes on a global scale.
Seth Harrington, Avisi Technologies, Inc.: Avisi Technologies have developed a nanotechnology-enabled aqueous shunt designed to treat glaucoma. Working closely with ophthalmologists and experts, Avisi is committed to introducing a reliable, safe and effective solution for glaucoma patients.
Tyler Melton, Corveus Medical: Corveus Medical is developing a novel one-time, catheter-based solution that provides instant relief from the symptoms of chronic heart failure by removing a single nerve branch.