These days, successful technology leadership means creatively and innovatively using technology to make a real business impact, whether in the private, government, education, or nonprofit sector. Therefore, InfoWorld.com, the premier website for IT professionals seeking to stay abreast of leading technology trends and issues, has launched its annual Technology Leadership Awards.The awards are open to IT pros anywhere in the world who can demonstrate such innovative leadership with real-world results over the last two years. Nominees can be formal IT managers such as CIOs, CTOs, and IT directors, or they can be IT pros who demonstrated informal leadership through their direct activities as a practitioner, such as by taking a lead role in development or project management regardless of title.

Nominees can apply for the awards at no cost at www.infoworld.com/tla. Nominees may enter for leadership in one of four categories: creation or substantial enhancement of a technology itself, deployment of technology in service of business needs, management of technology in service of business needs, and participation in the management of the business itself (that is, outside of the IT function). The awards provide the four categories in recognition of the multiple ways IT professionals can bring strong benefit to their businesses through pesonal leadership.

Nominations are due on or before May 1, 2011. For additional information, see the InfoWorld Technology Leadership Awards FAQ page.

The InfoWorld Technology Leadership Awards replace the InfoWorld CTO 25 Awards, which also recognized superior technology leadership but had been restricted to top-level IT managers. The new awards broadened the pool of eligible nominees in recognition of the contributions of IT pros at the project level, as well as the contributions of contractors and other parties.

InfoWorld.com is also seeking nominations for the InfoWorld Green 15 Awards, which honor innovative use of environmentally friendly technologies and the design, deployment, and management of technology in ways that reduce the burden on the planet. Those nominations are due on or before Feb. 28, 2011. More details on all of InfoWorld's awards can be found at www.infoworld.com/awards.