Taiwan’s Industrial Technology Research Institute received runner-up honors in two categories of The Wall Street Journal’s 2012 Technology Innovation Awards Oct. 16.
ITRI is the only dual winner this year, with its products SideLighter in the energy category and aePLASMA in manufacturing technology.
SideLighter is a “solar-energy technology that concentrates sunlight by directing it sideways to small solar cells at the edge of a panel,” while aePLASMA is a “plasma-jet coating process for applying transparent conductive materials to touch-screen displays and photovoltaic products,” according to the Journal.
Wu Tung-chuang, ITRI executive vice president, said both innovations were developed with green energy concepts in mind and the support of the Ministry of Economic Affairs under its science and technology program.
According to Wu, aePLASMA will help address environmental problems brought about by power consumption and the production of toxic materials, while SideLighter allows for the installation of solar panels in a greater range of locations, thereby boosting utilization of this renewable energy source.
ITRI has won the Wall Street Journal’s Technology Innovation Award or runner-up honor for the past four consecutive years.
This year the newspaper received 536 entries from more than 20 countries. A group of editors and reporters selected 172 finalists before an independent panel of judges chose 37 winners and runners-up in 18 categories.
The entries were judged on whether they break with conventional processes, make more than marginal improvements and will have a widespread impact. (SB-THN)
SOURCE / Taiwan Today