The Most Innovative New Product Awards, organized by Connect, are to San Diego’s technology industry what the Oscars are to the movie business. The annual event attracts over 800 San Diego business leaders, researchers and capital providers. Out of more than 100 companies that begin the rigorous judging process, only 25 become finalists, and just eight will get an award. The categories are: action and sport technologies; aerospace and security technologies; clean technology; communications and IT; hardware and general technology; life sciences (diagnostics and research tools); life sciences (medical products), and software. The exhibit hall opens at 10 am, and online registration is here.