The fourth annual Wisconsin Innovation Awards, a program that seeks to recognize bright ideas from companies based in the Badger State, were held earlier this week. According to a press release, the ten category winners were chosen from more than 230 nominees. Three of the companies that took first place in their fields were: DotCom Therapy (healthcare category), which develops software that connects students with speech language pathologists; Sheboygan-based VibeTech(biotech), which has built a leg press machine that exercises a user’s leg muscles by delivering vibrations to the skin; and Madison-based Midwestern BioAg(agriculture), which manufactures fertilizers and other products designed to improve soil health.

—The Water Council, a Milwaukee-based organization that works to help grow the area’s water tech industry, announced a partnership with NASA aimed at accelerating the development of new products that could improve space travel and exploration. NASA runs a series of programs called TechConnect in which the agency works to improve and implement technologies developed by U.S. companies. This is the first ever NASA TechConnect event that specifically concentrates on water technologies, according to a press release. NASA will pick up to four businesses working on new water-related products, with the chosen companies receiving technical assistance from the agency and the chance to meet with leaders at the Ohio Aerospace Institute in Cleveland next spring. Read the full story here.