Absolute Software is among five British Columbia companies named to Deloitte's Technology Fast 50 list, and the Vancouver company ranked among four across Canada to receive a coveted leadership award in Vancouver Wednesday.

Absolute was joined in the top 50 by four other B.C. companies, including two Vancouver firms that ranked among the top 10.

Absolute Software, renowned for its computer security and tracing technology, was 38th in the Technology Fast 50 list, chalking up five-year growth of 397 per cent.

Vancouver's Vision Critical was No. 6 with a five-year growth rate of 4,626 per cent; Vancouver's Corinex Communications was No. 9 with a growth rate of 3,862 per cent. Another Vancouver company, PNI Digital Media, ranked 13th, growing by 2,134 per cent; Richmond's Talent Technology came in at No. 45 with 329-per-cent growth.

The Deloitte Technology Fast 50 awards rank companies based on their past five-year revenue growth rates, rates that dropped on average for 2009 to 1,993 per cent, down from 2,456 per cent the previous year.

Topping the Fast 50 list is Montreal-based ProSep, an oil and gas processing equipment company that posted an 18,070-per-cent five-year revenue growth. It also rated in the awards' Technology Green 15 rankings and the leadership awards.

Burnaby's Tantalus Systems was named among Deloitte's Technology Green 15, along with Sempa Power Systems of North Vancouver.

"Instead of trying to shoot the lights out, tech companies are strategically positioning themselves for a recovery that will see them stronger and even more competitive in the future," said Deloitte's John Ruffolo.

gshaw@vancouversun.com