INNOVATIVE high-tech companies in the West Midlands are being urged by industry leaders to step forward and take part in the prestigious 2009 ICT Excellence Awards, which are organised by the Advantage West Midlands’ ICT Cluster.

Entry is open from early June 2009 and the deadline for entries is 12 noon on 28th September 2009. The Award entry form, rules and criteria and FAQs can be accessed online from the West Midlands ICT Cluster website: https://www.wmictcluster.org/events/2009/awards2009

The free to enter technology awards are designed to recognise the talents and achievements of the growing regional ICT (Information Communication Technology) sector. They will be announced and presented during an evening reception following the annual West Midlands ICT Cluster Conference on Tuesday 10th November 2009, at the National Motorcycle Museum in Bickenhill, Solihull. This year’s inspirational theme for the awards and conference is ‘Competing in the New World – Innovate your way to success’.  

The categories in this year's awards comprise ICT Excellence Award for Best Innovative Product, Best Innovative Service, Best Added Value Product, Best Added Value Service, Best Added Value Project, Best Knowledge Transfer Project and Most Improved Business, with an overall champion selected from the winners of each of the seven categories receiving £2,000.

A showcase for the industry's high-fliers, the 2009 awards are expected to attract a record number of companies eager to be crowned overall champion.   Previous overall champions include Rapide Communication from Coventry and DPS Limited from Birmingham.

Hosted again this year by Stuart Linnell the awards are considered as the calendar event for the region's ICT industry.

Since the launch of the event in 2005, the winners of previous ICT Excellence Awards have benefited from an increased portfolio of clients, improved marketing exposure, recognition from peers in the industry and offers of funding. Fledgling and successful small to medium sized businesses looking to expand and promote their products and services are being urged to submit an application by 28th September and put their business in contention for regional recognition.

Mike Musson, ICT Cluster Manager urged competitors not to leave it too late. “In 2008, we had the highest, both in number and quality of entries to date, from both within the Midlands and beyond.  We are expecting entries from a wide range of ICT sub-sectors including mobile, enterprise and business software, e-business, photonics and open source. We encourage all technology based SMEs to participate, whatever sub-sector of ICT they operate in, to gain valuable recognition for the incredible innovation, skills and expertise there is in this region."  

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Notes to Editors:
About ICT Cluster

The ICT Cluster is one of thirteen clusters established by Advantage West Midlands as part of its economic development strategy. These clusters have been chosen on the basis of their current strength in the region and their potential to create jobs and economic growth.

Advantage West Midlands is one of nine Regional Development Agencies in England whose role is to provide leadership and action to create more, better jobs and in improve the standard of living for all in the West Midlands.

The ICT Cluster will be hosting the Annual West Midlands ICT Conference and ICT Excellence Awards on 10 November 2009.   

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