The clock is ticking to nominate the top innovators and entrepreneurs in the state for the 2015 Alabama Launchpad Innovation Awards.

Sunday, May 17 is the deadline for companies to nominate themselves or have others submit them for awards in five categories:

• Corporate Innovator of the Year (small with up to 50 employees)
• Corporate Innovator of the Year (large with more than 50 employees)
• Outstanding Achievement in Innovative Manufacturing
• Outstanding Public-Private Partnership for Innovation
• Lifetime Achievement in Innovation.

Companies should demonstrate significant achievement in job creation, commitment to innovation and innovation that addresses a local or global need.

Jim Hudson, co-founder of the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology in Huntsville, said innovation and entrepreneurship are essential to the future of Alabama. Hudson urges small business innovators to apply for a 2015 award.

“As a state, we should do everything we can to encourage small business innovation,” said Hudson, who is a member of the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama (EDPA) Foundation board of directors. “Celebrating our innovators and their achievements is the best way I know to inspire other innovators to believe in themselves and come forward with their ideas.”

The Alabama Launchpad program of the EDPA celebrates and honors contributions to the state’s innovation economy through the annual awards. Winners will be honored at the fifth annual Alabama Launchpad Innovation and Entrepreneurship Conference Sept. 2 in Birmingham.