FORT MYERS, Fla. - TelAve -- Five Southwest Florida businesses are among the list of distinguished companies that will be hailed as global innovators during the 2026 Edison Awards, an international competition that culminates in April with a celebratory event in Fort Myers.

The Edison Awards released its 2026 finalists (https://edisonawards.com/finalists/) on Jan. 20, noting the winners are a "curated collective of builders, disruptors and visionaries whose work is already shaping tomorrow." Southwest Florida honorees include:

• Arthrex, Inc. (Naples): Percutaneous Pars Fracture Compression Screw (Orthopedic and Soft Tissue Repair) and Synergy Power System (Surgical Robotics and Precision Therapy)
• ADDMAN (Fort Myers): ADDCAAM (Advanced Manufacturing Processes)
• e2companies (Bonita Springs): Virtual Utility (Predictive and Real-Time Systems)
• EmCyte Corporation (Fort Myers): Pure SupraPhysiologic Concentrating System with AspiraDome Technology (Point of Care Therapeutics)
• Digital ShortCutz LLC (Naples): Conversion Velocity Engine (AI-Enhanced Workflow Solutions)

The annual competition recognizes finalists and winners that are selected from thousands of global submissions. Entries are evaluated by an independent panel of senior scientists, engineers, designers and industry leaders who assess each innovation on their concept, value and impact.

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Since 2021, the Edison Awards recognition event has been held in Fort Myers, where Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, Harvey Firestone and other innovators have shaped the region's entrepreneurial spirit. The Horizon Foundation and City of Fort Myers are among the list of local and national organizations that sponsor the Edison Awards. The Lee County Economic Development Office helped recruit the Edison Awards to Southwest Florida as part of its ongoing efforts to shine a spotlight on the region's thriving economy.

"Edison built the world's first true innovation lab, a place where brilliant minds could collide, collaborate, and create," said Frank Bonafilia, CEO of the Edison Awards. "That's what we've built here. Our finalists aren't just competing for recognition; they're joining a community where the connections made often become as transformative as the innovations themselves. When you bring together this caliber of talent, anything is possible."

The 2026 honorees are considered trendsetters in their respective fields, from AI redefining creativity to biotech extending human potential. Past finalists and winners have gone on to secure billions in funding, launch category-defining products and fundamentally reshape their industries.

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Hosted by the City of Fort Myers, the Edison Awards ceremony will take place April 15-16 at the Caloosa Sound Convention Center in Fort Myers. A full list of Edison Awards honorees, ticket information and sponsorship opportunities is available online at EdisonAwards.com.