ChangingWorlds, the Dublin maker of personalisation software for mobile phones, has won the inaugural Irish Technology Leadership Group (ITLG)/ Irish TimesInnovation Award.

The award was presented at an event in Silicon Valley last night attended by more than 200 executives from some of the technology industry's leading companies, including Intel chairman Craig Barrett.

Four companies were shortlisted for the award - ChangingWorlds, Altobridge, Digisoft.tv and Nubiq - which recognises an innovative Irish company which it is believed has the most potential to succeed on the international stage.

A panel of judges from ITLG and The Irish Timeschose ChangingWorlds because of its "impressive customer successes, product strategy, management team and outstanding intellectual property portfolio".

Founded in 1999, ChangingWorld's sells personalisation software to mobile phone operators which allows them present mobile internet content to users relevant to their interests. Its customers include Vodafone subsidiaries in the UK, Australia, France, Ireland and the Netherlands, O2 UK and Germany and Swisscom Mobile.

The event also recognised Mr Barrett and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Micheál Martin, who were recognised with a special award for their contribution to the development of the technology industry in Ireland. The awards coincided with the 15th anniversary of the production of the first microprocessors at Intel's facility in Leixlip.

Mr Martin said Ireland's relationship with the US, and Silicon Valley in particular, would be key in making Ireland a leader in research and development. Mr Martin was in California as part of an Enterprise Ireland trade mission during which 10 Irish firms announced contracts worth €29 million with US organisations.

ITLG was founded last November by senior Irish and Irish American executives to help Ireland capitalise on opportunities from new technology.