A new award designed to honor local technology companies that "ensure a cleaner tomorrow" was given to BPL Global at the Pittsburgh Technology Council's Tech 50 awards.

The awards honor the top-ranked technology companies in 13 counties of southwestern Pennsylvania.

Sewickley-based BPL provides software and services for managing the demand and distribution of electricity.

The "high rise" award, also new this year, went to Marshall-based Medrad Inc. The medical device maker was recognized for demonstrating long periods of sustained growth.

Other award winners, by category, included:

Advanced manufacturing: Respironics Inc.

Information technology: BitArmor

Life Sciences: RedPath Integrated Pathology Inc.

Rising Star: Cohera Medical Inc.

Service Provider: Newton Consulting

For Cohera, news of the award came on the heels of it having secured $16.1 million of Series B financing for continuing development of its surgical adhesive, TissuGlu.

The award for CEO of the Year went to Gregory S. Babe, chief executive officer of Bayer MaterialScience LLC.

The awards, based on sales, financial strength, corporate citizenship, job growth and innovation, were announced Thursday evening at a banquet at Carnegie Music Hall in Oakland.