Nominations Open for U.S. Technology-Innovation Medal

Rakesh Agrawal receiving National Medal of Technology and Innovation from President Obama, October 2011 (Purdue University)

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has opened nominations for the 2012 National Medal of Technology and Innovation, the country’s highest award for technological achievement. Nominations for the medal, awarded annually by the president, are due on 31 March.

Individuals, teams of up to four individuals, companies, and divisions of companies are eligible to compete for the award to mark their contributions to the country’s economic, environmental and social well-being. The medal recognizes those who have made lasting achievements that add to the country’s competitiveness, standard of living, and quality of life through technological innovation. The award also recognizes those who have helped strengthen its technological workforce.

Individuals or teams from national labs are eligible for the award, but not the labs or other government agencies as organizations. U.S. citizenship is a requirement for individuals and teams. Companies or not-for-profit organizations must be U.S. owned, defined as more than half of its stock or assets owned by U.S. citizens. Self-nominations are not accepted.

Last year’s medal winners were Rakesh Agrawal of Purdue University (pictured right, receiving the medal in October 2011) for his work on gas liquefaction and separation, Jayant Baliga of North Carolina State University for development and commercialization of the insulated gate bipolar transistor and other power semiconductor devices, and Donald Bateman of Honeywell for developing and championing critical flight-safety sensors now used by aircraft worldwide.

Also among last year’s recipients were Yvonne Brill of RCA Astro Electronics for innovations in rocket propulsion systems for geosynchronous and low earth orbit communication satellites, and Michael Tompsett of TheraManager for his work in materials and electronic technologies including design and development of the first charge-coupled device (CCD) imagers.

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