MIN Recognized for Implementing a Social Software Solution to Spur Innovation and More Productive Relationships within the Waterloo Region's Manufacturing Sector

October 8, 2010 (Kitchener, ON) - - IGLOO Software (www.igloosoftware.com), a leading provider of online community and social software solutions for business, today congratulated the Waterloo Region Manufacturing Innovation Network (MIN) for winning the 2010 Marketing Canada Award in Digital Media. The CEO of Canada's Technology Triangle, John Jung, accepted the award on behalf of the MIN Advisory Board on September 21, at the Economic Developers Association of Canada's (EDAC) annual conference in Quebec City.

The 2010 EDAC Marketing Canada Awards acknowledge and praise communities who have succeeded at creating a differentiated service offering for businesses in their region. The awards also kick-start discussion and provide a forum to share best practices and enhance the marketing efforts of all those working in the field of economic development. There were a total of 179 submissions from coast to coast and each was reviewed by an adjudication committee comprised of representatives from various disciplines. The MIN was recognized in the category of Digital Media - Niche / Specialty Microsite.

The MIN is an online professional network which facilitates and promotes awareness and innovation within the region's manufacturing sector. Powered by IGLOO Software's online community platform, the network connects manufacturers, partners, government agencies, academic institutions and other stakeholder groups to improve collaboration and knowledge sharing. For MIN, the EDAC award follows a similar honour earlier in the year from the Economic Developers Council of Ontario for best new website.

"The MIN concept is an important one for all communities to embrace," said Al Diggins, President and General Manager, Excellence in Manufacturing Consortium (EMC). "It takes an entire community to help manufacturing reach its full potential and the Waterloo Region MIN provides the infrastructure necessary to engage all sectors and subject matter experts. EMC congratulates the Waterloo Region MIN on its award and is proud to have supported MIN since its inception. This technological success has set a tremendous benchmark as EMC deploys new interactive Manufacturing Innovation Networks in regions across Ontario and throughout Canada."

"Like many organizations, the manufacturing sector is plagued by a lack of understanding of the full extent of their knowledge and capabilities here locally," said Dan Latendre, CEO, IGLOO Software. "I always recount the story of the manufacturer who spent countless hours and resources sourcing a part from a foreign supplier, only to discover afterwards that the very same part was being produced by a manufacturer right next door. The MIN is a great example of how social software can help overcome these challenges by facilitating interactions and connecting us more easily to the resources we need."

"The Waterloo Region, with approximately half a million people in the cities of Cambridge, Kitchener and Waterloo, has the second highest concentration of manufacturing employment in Canada, in approximately 1000 firms," said Valerie Machado, chair of the MIN Advisory Board. "The MIN is an efficient and cost-effective means of creating connections and stimulating collaboration, which ultimately leads to innovation and new business opportunities. MIN also provides a means for municipalities and other community partners to demonstrate their support for this important sector during these increasingly challenging times."

About Manufacturing Innovation Network (www.waterloomin.com)
The Manufacturing Innovation Network (MIN) is a free online network which facilitates and promotes awareness, excellence and innovation within the Region of Waterloo manufacturing sector. The network connects manufacturing stakeholder groups in an effort to create a more responsive and globally competitive manufacturing community through improved collaboration, knowledge sharing and partnership opportunities.

About Excellence in Manufacturing Consortium (www.emccanada.org)
The Excellence in Manufacturing Consortium (EMC) is a unique not-for-profit organization of manufacturers and is 'Canada's Largest Manufacturing Consortium'. EMC is responsible for contributing significant knowledge, expertise and industry resources towards the success of over 900 member manufacturers, employing hundreds of thousands of Canadians. EMC's grass-roots and online membership is COAST-to-COAST, represented by thousands of manufacturers in all provinces from British Columbia through to Prince Edward Island, with operational consortiums in 53 consortium regions, spanning more than 200 communities in Ontario and Atlantic Canada.

About Economic Developers Association of Canada (www.edac.ca)
The Economic Developers Association of Canada (EDAC) is Canada's national organization of Economic Developers pursuing excellence in the field since 1968. The Association's mission is to enhance the professional competence of Economic Development officers and ensure placement of qualified people in the field of Economic Development; to advance Economic Development as a distinct, recognized, and self-governing profession; and to contribute to Canada's economic well-being. EDAC is an eager partner with municipalities nationwide.

About IGLOO Software (www.igloosoftware.com)
IGLOO is a social software company that builds online communities for business. Uniting content management and collaboration software, within one secure social networking platform, organizations use IGLOO's online communities to tear down the walls that prevent people from connecting, communicating and collaborating with each other. Whether the obstacles are organizational or geographic, a more open and connected business improves employee productivity (Workplace Communities) and helps to foster better relationships with customers, partners and suppliers (Marketplace Communities). IGLOO also offers the Social Media Playbook, a free online resource and step-by-step guide that teaches proven community building strategies.

View the IGLOO Press Kit