[news 2003-2004]

Feb. 3, 2003

Performance Plants, Molecular Mining win Kingston Technology Council Awards of Excellence

KINGSTON, ON -- Performance Plants, Inc. and Molecular Mining Corporation, two spinoff companies of Queen's University's PARTEQ Innovations, were honoured for their contributions to Kingston's technology sector at the third annual Kingston Technology Awards of Excellence, held Saturday, Feb. 1.

Performance Plants received the Pinnacle Award for its innovation, entrepreneurship and community contribution in the area of technology. Founded in 1995 by plant biologists Drs. David Dennis and Daniel Lefebvre, with the assistance of PARTEQ Innovations, Performance Plants focuses on genetic enhancement of plants for crop protection against environmental stresses such as drought and heat, and for increased productivity, particularly in soybeans, corn, canola, cotton and other crops. The company has offices in Kingston and Saskatoon.

Molecular Mining received the Technika Award for the development and global commercialization of its GeneLinker line of data mining and predictive modelling software products. Molecular Mining was founded in 1997 by Queen's researchers Drs. Evan Steeg, Janice Glasgow, Suzanne Fortier and Donald Weaver; and Dr. Lawrence Hunter of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, with the assistance of PARTEQ Innovations.

In the past year Molecular Mining successfully completed an ambitious product development schedule, releasing two updates of its inaugural software product, GeneLinker Gold, as well as two versions of its next-generation product, GeneLinker Platinum. The company's research and development alliances include IBM, GlaxoSmithKline and University of California at San Francisco. Molecular Mining has offices in Kingston, ON and Cambridge, MA.

"The Pinnacle Award recognizes Performance Plants' success in demonstrating the value of their approach to crop improvement," says John Molloy, President & CEO of PARTEQ Innovations. "It is a strong acknowledgement of their commitment to improve crops which will significant impact the economics of agriculture."

"Similarly, Molecular Mining has shown tremendous resolve in bringing not one, but two high-end software products to market during a challenging period in the business cycle," he added. "The Technika Award is an achievement resulting from its focus, drive and energy in advancing its technology to commercial markets."

This year's awards are the second and third given to PARTEQ spinoff companies. In 2002 Cardiomics Inc., another PARTEQ spinoff company, received the Nova Award as a well-managed, early-stage company poised for exponential growth.

PARTEQ itself has earned two KTC Awards in recent years. In 2001 John Molloy, President and CEO of PARTEQ, received the Champion Award for his leadership in promoting knowledge-based enterprises in Kingston; and in 2002 PARTEQ received the Partner Award for its contributions to the growth of its spinoff company Molecular Mining.

The Kingston Technology Council Awards of Excellence were established by the Kingston Technology Council in 2001 to celebrate outstanding individuals, companies and institutions who, through the development and application of technology, have made significant contributions to the prosperity and social/cultural well-being of the Kingston community.

Information:

Kingston Technology Council

http://www.kingstontechnology.net/