The organizers of the Kira Awards have announced the finalists for the awards, which are presented annually to members of New Brunswick’s knowledge industry.

In a statement, the organizers said the awards, which will be presented at a gala in Fredericton on May 5, are focusing this year on innovation and entrepreneurship.

“In business we know that ‘knowledge’ is a fundamental component of how we operate,” Heather MacLean, 2016 KIRA Awards Co-Chair, said in the statement. “As the KIRA Awards mature, it only makes sense for us to recognize that we need to celebrate innovation and all that it brings to our province, region and country as a whole. We are fortunate to have tremendous world class talent right here at home.”

And the KIRA finalists are:

Most Promising Start-up:

•Eigen Innovations

•Gemba Software Solutions

•SimpTek Technologies

Economic Impact:

•Groupe Savoie

•IBM

•The Learning Bar

Innovative New Product or Service:

•Mycodev

•Resson Aerospace

•Thermal Wood Canada

Industry Champion:

•Dr. Ali Ghorbani

•Dr. Dhirendra Shukla

•Keith McIntosh

Premier's Innovation Award - Private

•Malley Industries

•Smart Grid Innovation Network - SGIN

•Velante

Premier's Innovation Award - Public

•Cities of Saint John, Fredericton, and Moncton, Service NB, Department of Public Safety, and Ambulance NB

•Horizon Health Network - NB Telestroke

•New Brunswick Cancer Network Dr. Kumar