Recent honors show government researchers can hold their own against innovation from privately funded labs.

The editors of R&D Magazine have announced the winners of the 50th Annual R&D 100 Awards, which salute the 100 most technologically significant products introduced into the marketplace over the past year.

Of the winners, 35% were given to government labs, with several labs taking home multiple awards.

“As the R&D 100 Awards marks 50 years of celebrating innovation, the editors are pleased to present this year’s winners as prime examples of advances in science and technology,” said Rita Peters, editorial director of R&D Magazine. “Despite a slow economy, the competition experienced a near record number of entries from around the world. This demonstrates that researchers are committed to innovate.”

The innovations represent a broad spectrum of new materials, instruments, consumer products, environmental and energy technologies, imaging systems, communications, and electronic instrumentation, as well as process technologies and safety systems.

Winners in this year’s competition include Eric Kozubal and the researchers at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, who are also featured in the new AOL Gov series on lab breakthroughs. Kozubal co-invented an air conditioning system that efficiently cools a building and manages humidity levels, and his work has been highlighted by the Department of Energy.

Award winning designs also included new methods for thin film deposition, nanoparticle-based materials, advances for laser systems, solar reflective roofing shingles, a light field camera, and electronic focusing reading glasses.

More information on the featured labs and their research can be found on the full list of winners.