HILLSBORO, Ore. – A Hillsboro company will be recognized Wednesday as an innovator for having produced a special microscope designed for educational purposes.

The FEI Company and FEI Chief Executive Officer Don Kania will receive a Recognition of Excellence in Innovation certificate at the company's Hillsboro headquarters near Portland.

KGW photo

The certificate recognizes local and regional innovators from throughout the United States who have introduced a new product or service into the market during the last 12 months, have utilized a new manufacturing process within the last 12 months, or have received a patent from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office within the last 12 months.

In February 2007, the FEI Company, a global leader in electron microscopes and focused ion beam systems, previewed its newly-developed Phenom-Ed microscope, the world's first tabletop scanning electron microscope (SEM) designed specifically for education.

Magnifying up to 20,000x beyond the range of traditional optical microscopes, this technology will give students access to micro- and nanoscale worlds rarely seen in undergraduate and high school studies.

Given the significant impact that nanotechnology is expected to have across industries in the competitive global economy, the Technology Administration's Recognition of Excellence in Innovation salutes FEI for creating a remarkable tool that will bring a new teaching dimension to the classroom; foster interest in advanced science, technology, engineering and math education; inspire future scientists and innovators; and increase U.S. competitiveness.