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SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 16, 2006--The 2006 Tech Museum Awards, presented by Applied Materials, Inc., awarded $250,000 at a black-tie gala last night to educators, scientists and social entrepreneurs who use technology to benefit mankind. The five $50,000 cash prize recipients hail from India, Japan, and the United States, and their technology solutions improve the lives of countless individuals throughout the world.

Each of the five Laureates awarded a cash prize is encouraged to reinvest their winnings in additional programs that utilize technology to solve global challenges and improve lives. This year Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, was presented with the James C. Morgan Global Humanitarian Award, sponsored by Applied Materials. The 2006 Tech Museum Awards cash prize recipients are:

2006 Intel Environment Award

MBA Polymers, Inc. of Richmond, CA, for developing an advanced, energy-efficient plastics recycling process.

2006 Accenture Economic Development Award

Center for Development of Disadvantaged People of Chennai, India for its creation of a water purification system that uses materials, such as indigenous plants, found easily in impoverished areas of India.

2006 Microsoft Education Award

Internet Archive of San Francisco for building an Internet library with the purpose of offering permanent access for researchers, historians and scholars to historical collections in a digital format.

2006 Agilent Technologies Foundation Health Award

Sumitomo Chemical Co. of Tokyo, Japan for its Olyset long-lasting mosquito bednet for malaria protection.

2006 Katherine M. Swanson Equality Award

Daniel K. Davies of AbleLink Technologies, Inc. of Colorado Springs, CO for pioneering information technology to help cognitively disabled persons take part in everyday activities, career development and independent living.

Tech Museum President Peter Friess commented, "The Tech Laureates who have come here in the last five years are perfect examples of how rewarding it is to think about inventing something that helps to improve living and working conditions in the world and to save the environment for future generations."

This year, the 2006 James C. Morgan Global Humanitarian Award, sponsored by Applied Materials, Inc. was bestowed upon Bill Gates. In his acceptance, Mr. Gates elaborated on the use of technology to benefit everyday life; citing the importance of identifying basic human needs first and using technology to develop simple, comprehensive solutions.

The gala, attended by over 1,500 global technology leaders, philanthropists and guests, honored 25 Laureates in the categories of environment, economic development, education, equality and health. The Laureates traveled to Silicon Valley from the 9 countries they represent for a week of meetings with potential funders and partners, various speaking engagements, and the black-tie gala.

This year, more than 950 nominations were received, representing 98 countries. The 25 Laureates come from Brazil, Canada, Eritrea, Ghana, India, Japan, Nigeria, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Selected Laureates are honored for their impact on people throughout the world with their innovative technologies. Nominations for the 2007 Tech Museum Awards are now open. For more information and nomination forms, visit www.techawards.org.

About The Tech Museum Awards

The Tech Museum Awards honor individuals, for-profit, public and not-for-profit organizations from around the world for applying technology to profoundly improve the human condition in the areas of environment, economic development, education, equality and health. The Tech Museum Awards were inspired by The State of the Future report of The Millennium Project of the American Council for the United Nations University. The Tech Museum Awards were inaugurated in 2001, and have since disbursed over $1 million in prize money and recognized over 100 Laureates for their pioneering developments of new technologies to benefit mankind.

Judging for The Tech Museum Awards is conducted by Santa Clara University's Center for Science, Technology and Society. This independent panel of category judges is recruited from research institutions, industry and the public sector from around the world.

The Tech Museum Awards, presented by Applied Materials, Inc., represents a collaborative effort among educational institutions and businesses. Silicon Valley leaders supporting The Tech Museum Awards include presenting sponsor Applied Materials and Santa Clara University's Center for Science, Technology, and Society. Award category sponsors include Intel, Accenture, Microsoft, Agilent Technologies Foundation and The Swanson Foundation. Program sponsors include Wells Fargo, Genentech, Chopard, KPMG, Celerity, Cadence, Santa Clara Valley National Bank, The Skoll Foundation, Frank and Denise Quattrone Foundation, Hewlett-Packard, NASDAQ, Motorola, ebay, NBC11, The Mercury News, American Airlines and The Fairmont San Jose. For more information about The Tech Museum Awards, visit www.techawards.org.

About The Tech Museum of Innovation:

The Tech Museum of Innovation is an interactive technology and science experience. Located in San Jose, California -- the Capital of Silicon Valley -- its mission, as a public-benefit corporation, is to inspire the innovator in everyone. Through hands-on exhibits, educational programs, the annual Tech Challenge student team competition, and the internationally recognized Tech Museum Awards, presented by Applied Materials, Inc., The Tech Museum of Innovation honors the past, celebrates the present, and encourages the development of innovative ideas for a more promising future. For more information about The Tech Museum of Innovation, visit www.thetech.org.

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Copyright Business Wire 2006

Tech Museum of Innovation, The

Tech Museum of Innovation, The

Established in 2001, The Tech Museum Awards honor 25 Laureates (individuals, for-profit, public and not-for-profit organizations) from around the world who are developing innovative ways to use technology to solve global challenges. Five of these Laureates share a $250,000 cash prize. These individuals will be selected from 951 entries received this year. The cash prize winners will also be announced at the November 15 gala dinner. The black tie event will be hosted by NFL Legend Steve Young, a member of The Tech Museum's Board of Directors. The Tech Museum Awards represent a collaborative effort among educational institutions and businesses. Silicon Valley leaders supporting The Tech Museum Awards include presenting sponsor Applied Materials and Santa Clara University's Center for Science, Technology, and Society. Category sponsors include Intel, Accenture, Microsoft, Agilent Technologies Foundation, The Swanson Foundation and Applied Materials. Program sponsors include Wells Fargo, KPMG and Celerity.

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