QlikTech, named by IDC as the world’s fastest growing Business Intelligence (BI) vendor, today announced it has been selected by the World Economic Forum as a Technology Pioneer 2008. 

The final selection of 39 Technology Pioneer 2008 companies from 273 nominees was made by a panel of the world’s leading technology experts, including venture capitalists, technology companies, academics and media appointed by the World Economic Forum. 

“We are honored to be recognised by the World Economic Forum as a Technology Pioneer, and in a class with other world innovators,” said Mans Hultman, Chairman of QlikTech.  “Simplicity is a key to innovation.  Eliminating complexity – in the products you deliver, in business relationships with customers and partners, and in company structure – allows innovation to foster.”

Technology Pioneers are nominated in three main categories: Energy/Environment, Biotechnology/Health and Information Technology.  The selection criteria include:

1) Innovation. The company’s technology must be truly innovative. A new version or repackaging of an already well-accepted technological solution does not qualify as an innovation. The company should invest significantly in R&D.
2) Potential Impact. The company’s technology must have the potential to have a substantial long-term impact on business and society in the future.
3) Growth and Sustainability. The company should have all the signs of being a long-term market leader and should have well-formulated plans for future development and growth.
4) Proof of Concept. The company must have a product on the market or have proven practical applications of the technology. Companies in “stealth” mode and companies with untested ideas or models will not qualify.
5) Leadership. The company must have visionary leadership that plays a critical role in driving the company towards reaching its goals.
6) Status. The company must not currently be a Member of the World Economic Forum. This criterion applies to the parent company – thus wholly-owned subsidiaries of large firms are not eligible.

“This year the World Economic Forum received a record number of applications from companies around the world to become a Technology Pioneer. From a highly competitive field, we are extremely pleased to have a community that is using innovation and technology to dramatically affect the way society and business operate and doing so in a markedly collaborative manner. We are excited to welcome the Technology Pioneers class of 2008 to the larger community of the World Economic Forum and we are looking forward to the fruits that their collaboration will bring,” said Peter Torreele, Managing Director of the World Economic Forum.

The companies’ products and services include identity management on the Internet, understanding of individuals’ genetic information, robotic radiosurgery, pollution control materials, low-cost remote diagnosis solutions, virtual interface technologies, wiki-based projects and next-generation business intelligence solutions.

The entire list of Technology Pioneers and interviews with the CEOs of the selected companies can be found here: http://www.weforum.org/techpioneers/2008.