Technology is a major part of the San Diego economy, so when the area’s main high-tech trade group, AeA (formerly the American Electronics Association), celebrates some of the best and brightest in the industry, as it did Oct. 12, it deserves attention.

The 13th annual High Tech Awards that took place at the Hilton Torrey Pines in La Jolla featured one winner and several finalists in each of eight categories.

In the Software/Internet category, the winner was Exametric Inc. and the rest of the finalists were Adicio, BakBone Software, Document Sciences Corp. and Eset.

In the Internet/Web Commerce category, the winner was WebSideStory, and the finalists were Aplus.Net Internet Services, Impact Engine, St. Bernard Software and Zoovy Inc.

In the Computers and Related Products category, the winner was Continuous Computing. The rest of the finalists were Kontron, Mad Dog Multimedia Inc. and Networkcar.

In the Communications Products and Services category, the winner was Staccato Communications. The other finalists were Axesstel Inc., Entriq Inc., and MIR3 Inc.

In the Technology/IT Services category, the winner was XIFIN Inc. The finalists were Enviance Inc., SYS Technologies Inc. and Xonicwave.

In the Semiconductors, Industrial and Analytical Instrumentation category, the winner was Elgar Electronics Corp. The finalists were Power Genix, Precision Engine Controls and Tarari Inc.

In the Medical Device/Instrumentation category, the winner was Dexcom Inc. The finalists were Aperio, Asteres Inc. and the Virtual Reality Medical Center.

In the Outstanding Emerging Growth category, the winner was Verimatrix Inc., and the finalists were Armorpoint Inc., Blackball Inc., Intercasting Corp., SEMDirector Inc. and Sky Mobilemedia.

Judges selecting the award winners and finalists represented a cross-section of local technology leaders. Some 600 technology executives attended the luncheon.

— Mike Allen