Edison Nation was named a finalist in the 2010 Edison Best New Product Awards today, the 163rd birthday of renowned inventor Thomas Alva Edison, at a press conference at the legendary Friars Club in New York City.

The Edison Awards, a peer-review honor similar to the Oscars, is voted on by roughly 2,000 members of the not-for-profit, Marketing Executives Networking Group (MENG), America’s top executives and academics. The awards symbolize the persistence and excellence personified by Thomas Alva Edison, inspiring America’s drive to remain in the forefront of innovation, creativity and ingenuity in the global economy. Thomas Edison created four industries without which modern life cannot function. The four, now among the world’s largest, are Electric Power Generation, Recorded Sound, Motion Pictures, and Electric Light Bulbs. Edison also made crucial contributions to a host of other industries including the Storage Battery, Telecommunications, Cement, Chemicals, and Mining. Edison Awards are judged on Marketplace Innovation, Marketplace Success, Technological Innovation, Market Structure Innovation, Societal Impact and Design Innovation.

Edison Nation is a finalist in the Lifestyle and Social Impact category, one of more than 10 categories honored by the Edison Awards. Edison Nation is an open innovation platform and social community, bringing consumer-driven innovation to the marketplace.

“Innovation is more important now than ever,” says Caldicott. “The finalists we announced today are the moving parts in the engine of economic growth. They inspire people to think outside the box and improve the lives of people around the world.

Learn more about the 2010 nominees of the Edison Awards: http://edisonawards.com/2010Finalists.php