Call for Nominations Open for First Annual Spike Awards

    BEACHWOOD, OH, July 22, 2010 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Kalypso, the world's premier innovation consulting firm, is now accepting nominations for the first annual Spike Awards to recognize the best use of social media and social computing (Web 2.0) to improve innovation, product development, and product management. Nominations can be submitted online now through September 3, 2010 at http://spikeawards.com.

The Spike (Social Product Innovation Knowledge Excellence) Awards celebrate forward-thinking Web 2.0 innovators that leverage social media and social computing to improve innovation within their organizations.

"With today's social media and Web 2.0 technologies there are more ways to listen, engage and collaborate with customers, partners, and employees than ever before," said Bill Poston, managing partner at Kalypso. "The Spike Awards recognize companies that are going beyond the promise of social media to demonstrate strategic value in driving innovation."

Entries must be submitted via the online form at http://spikeawards.com/nominate.php. Individuals are free to nominate their organization or another leading organization. There is no fee to enter. The Spike Awards are open to organizations of all sizes in the following four industry categories:

- Technology Industry: High tech, consumer electronics, computer hardware, semiconductor, telecommunications, networking
- Life Sciences Industry: Medical device & supplies, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, healthcare
- Consumer Packaged Goods Industry: Consumer goods, food & beverage, retail, household, beauty, apparel
- Manufacturing Industry: Discrete, automotive, industrial, chemical, aerospace & defense

An expert panel of industry and Web 2.0 experts will judge entries based on the identified business challenge, approach to problem, creativity of solution, and results that relate back to the business problem.

Judges will select the top three finalists in each of the four industry categories. The twelve finalists will be posted to the Spike Awards website to gather People's Choice votes. The judges' panel will select one winner in each of the four industry categories and one People's Choice winner will be determined by online voting for a total of five awards.

Winners of the 2010 Spike Awards will be recognized at the Spike Awards reception at the34th Annual PDMA Conference on Product Innovation Management October 19, 2010 in Orlando, Florida.

About the Spike Awards

The Spike Awards recognize the best use of social media and social computing (Web 2.0) to improve innovation, product development, and product management. The first annual Spike (Social Product Innovation Knowledge Excellence) Awards celebrate forward-thinking Web 2.0 innovators that leverage social media and social computing to drive innovation within their organizations. For more information, visit http://spikeawards.com.

About Kalypso

Kalypso is the world's premier innovation consulting firm, helping clients improve profitability by delivering on the promise of innovation. Kalypso offers clients full service capabilities including Business and Innovation Strategy, Front End of Innovation, Portfolio and Pipeline Management, Development and New Product Introduction, Value Management, PLM Technology, Leadership and Learning, and Intellectual Property Management. For more information, visit http://kalypso.com.

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