Paratus Diagnostics won the Dick Burdick Award in 2017 for its trademark for a low-cost high-speed diagnostic device that can sample a variety of biological samples for diagnostic needs by simply switching out a cartridge. Shown are Dr. Shannon Wiegman, Dr. John Carrano, and Roland Schneider. Daily Record file photos by Rachel Willis
Nominees sought for 2019 Burdick Award
The Greater San Marcos Partnership’s Innovation Award Selection Committee is currently seeking nominations of local companies throughout the Greater San Marcos region (Hays and Caldwell counties) to receive the 2019 Burdick Innovation Award at the annual Greater San Marcos Innovation Summit. The award is presented to creative companies who have found innovative solutions to complex problems through unique methods, ideas, products and processes. Past award winners include Bautex Systems, Paratus Diagnostics, MicroPower Global, Quantum Mechanics and Thermon.
“There is significant innovation taking place in our region, much more than people realize. In fact, since 2010 companies in Hays and Caldwell counties have filed 11 times the number of patents per capita than the state of Texas and nine times more than the U.S.,” said Adriana Cruz, president of Greater San Marcos Partnership. “The Burdick Innovation Award allows our community to celebrate and recognize companies whose innovation is disrupting their industry while creating new jobs and opportunities for our region in the process.”
The Burdick Innovation Award was inspired by the late Dick Burdick whose unconventional creativity and out of the box thinking led to the introduction of heat transfer cement and the birth of Thermon, Inc. which relocated to San Marcos in the 1970s. Today, Thermon is a publicly-traded global operation with offices on six continents and 17 countries. . Burdick, a long-standing business and community leader, was the first recipient of his namesake award at the inaugural.
The 6th Annual Burdick Innovation Award will be presented at the 2019 Greater San Marcos Innovation Summit on Sept. 18 from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the Embassy Suites San Marcos Hotel & Conference Center.
To nominate a business located in the Greater San Marcos region, visit GreaterSanMarcosTX.com/Burdick-Award and provide a brief statement describing the company's innovative solutions through a novel method, idea, product or practice. The deadline for submissions is Aug. 16.
The Greater San Marcos Partnership (GSMP) is the 501c6 regional economic development organization serving the city of San Marcos, and Hays and Caldwell counties focused on positioning the region for a wider diversity of quality jobs with higher wages. The GSMP mission is to increase economic opportunities for all in the heart of the Texas Innovation Corridor. Visit the GSMP's website for more information.
