National Academy of Inventors

Honoring academic inventors for their thought-leadership & discovery.

[National Academy of Inventors @AcadofInventors]

The NAI’s sold out 15th Annual Conference would not be possible without the generosity and commitment of our Sponsors.

Their investment helps bring together inventors, university leaders, industry partners, policymakers, students, government representatives, and research organizations from across the innovation ecosystem for four days of conversation, recognition, and collaboration in Los Angeles.

As we prepare to celebrate the Academy’s milestone 15th Annual Conference, we are deeply grateful for our Sponsors’ support of research-driven innovation and inventors.

#NAI #NAI2026 #Innovation #Invention #Impact

[National Academy of Inventors @AcadofInventors]

A shrimp that strikes faster than a bullet leads to advanced aerospace and automotive technologies. Who would have imagined!

Watch the latest episode of "From Campus to Commerce" to discover how researchers at the University of California, Riverside used biomimicry and the mantis shrimp’s biological design to develop advanced composite materials that are lighter, stronger, and more efficient.

Produced by the National Academy of Inventors, in partnership with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), From Campus to Commerce explores what happens when intellectual property, commercialization, entrepreneurship, and industry come together to generate impact.

Stay tuned for more inspiring stories of innovation coming soon.

Watch on our YouTube channel: https://t.co/3cywg5Lteg

#NAI #Innovation #Invention #TechnologyTransfer #USPTO #Patents #FromCampustoCommerce #UCRiverside

[National Academy of Inventors @AcadofInventors]

Thank you to Command Strategies, LLC for sponsoring the Military Fireside Chat & Cadet Showcase: Innovation at the Academies at the National Academy of Inventors’ 15th Annual Conference.

Command Strategies accelerates research, technology transition, and federal market growth for universities, industry, and emerging technology partners.

Their sponsorship supports important conversations around leadership, research, and innovation emerging from the nation’s military academies and honors those advancing invention and technological progress in service to national priorities.

Explore the conference agenda:
https://t.co/yPn6CN4LVS

For organizations seeking visibility among leaders in research, invention, and commercialization, learn more about partnership opportunities here:
https://t.co/YfeXJVigwW

#NAI #NAI2026 #Innovation #Invention #IntellectualProperty #Impact

[National Academy of Inventors @AcadofInventors]

Congratulations to four members of the National Academy of Inventors honored with the 2026 American Innovator Award from The Bayh-Dole Coalition

The award recognizes innovators whose federally funded work and technologies have transformed society and generated significant economic opportunity.

Honorees from the NAI community include:

— Eric R Fossum, FNAI, of Dartmouth College, recognized for co-inventing the “camera-on-a-chip,” a foundational imaging technology now used across smartphones, medical devices, automobiles, and space exploration.

— Randall Bateman, FNAI, and David Holtzman, FNAI, of Washington University in St. Louis, recognized for pioneering PrecivityAD® and PrecivityAD2™, the first blood-based diagnostic tests for Alzheimer’s disease.

— Martin Pomper, M.D., Ph.D., SMNAI, of The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, recognized for co-developing Pylarify®, an FDA-approved imaging agent that significantly improved prostate cancer detection.

“From life-saving diagnostics to technologies that power entire industries, these innovators demonstrate the extraordinary return on investment from federally funded research,” said Brian P. O'Shaughnessy, Board Chair of the Bayh-Dole Coalition. “Their work underscores why it is critical to maintain policies that promote technology transfer, protect intellectual property, and support public-private partnerships.”

Read the full Faces of American Innovation report:
https://t.co/BDUcghuQdu

#NAI #Innovation #Invention #Impact #TechnologyTransfer #BayhDole

[National Academy of Inventors @AcadofInventors]

Thank you to AUTM, PTIE (Promotion & Tenure — Innovation & Entrepreneurship), and VentureWell for sponsoring the Focus Group Discussion at the National Academy of Inventors’ 15th Annual Conference.

AUTM, PTIE, and VentureWell each play an important role in strengthening the systems, leadership, and institutional strategies that support invention, research translation, and commercialization.

Their sponsorship supports an important discussion focused on how universities and innovation organizations can strengthen research impact and adapt to a rapidly evolving innovation landscape.

Learn more: https://t.co/TUuRo4cWT7

Organizations seeking visibility among leaders in research, invention, and commercialization can explore partnership opportunities here:
https://t.co/YfeXJVigwW

#NAI #NAI2026 #Innovation #Invention #IntellectualProperty #Impact

[National Academy of Inventors @AcadofInventors]

Thank you to Morehouse School of Medicine for sponsoring a Coffee Break at the National Academy of Inventors’ 15th Annual Conference.

Morehouse School of Medicine is a leading academic health institution recognized for its contributions to medical research, education, and improving community health outcomes.

Their sponsorship helps create moments throughout the conference where attendees can reconnect, exchange ideas, and continue conversations focused on strengthening research translation and invention-driven impact.

Learn more: https://t.co/TUuRo4cWT7

Organizations seeking visibility among leaders in research, invention, and commercialization can explore partnership opportunities here:
https://t.co/YfeXJVigwW

#NAI #NAI2026 #Innovation #Invention #IntellectualProperty #Impact

[National Academy of Inventors @AcadofInventors]

As the NAI’s 15th Annual Conference fast approaches, we want to thank the University of Southern California for serving as the National Academy of Inventors’ Host Institution.

From the Welcome Reception to conversations taking place throughout the Dolby Ballroom and Loews Hollywood Hotel, USC has helped create an extraordinary setting to connect, collaborate, and innovate over four days.

We are grateful for USC’s partnership and look forward to welcoming leaders from across academia, industry, government, and the broader innovation ecosystem to Los Angeles next week.

#NAI #NAI2026 #Innovation #Invention #Impact #USC

[National Academy of Inventors @AcadofInventors]

This Memorial Day, the National Academy of Inventors honors and remembers the service members who gave their lives to defend our nation and the ideals we hold so dear.

We are grateful to those whose service helps safeguard the freedoms that make discovery possible.

Today, we pause to recognize the sacrifice, dedication, and commitment represented by this day.

#MemorialDay

[National Academy of Inventors @AcadofInventors]

Innovation has long played a vital role in national security and defense strategy.

At the NAI’s 15th Annual Conference, this fireside chat and showcase highlight how research, engineering, and academic leadership at U.S. military academies shape defense.

Moderator: Tobias Rodill, HonNAI, Managing Partner, Command Strategies, LLC

Featuring:

— Colonel Brad McCoy, Associate Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, United States Military Academy; Associate Dean of Research for the Office of Research and Academy Dean, United States Military Academy

Learn how military academies improve research engagement, advance technical innovation, and prepare next generation leaders to address complex national challenges.

Explore the full conference agenda:
https://t.co/yPn6CN4LVS

#NAI #NAI2026 #Innovation #Invention #Impact #Defense

[National Academy of Inventors @AcadofInventors]

Thank you to the USF Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing for sponsoring the Innovation Exchange panel “Artificial Intelligence: Transforming Discovery and Decision Making” at the National Academy of Inventors’ 15th Annual Conference.

Bellini College is focused on advancing education, research, and leadership in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and next-generation computing technologies.

Their sponsorship supports a timely conversation examining how AI is reshaping research, decision making, intellectual property, and the future of innovation across institutions and industries.

Learn more: https://t.co/TUuRo4cWT7

Organizations seeking visibility among leaders in research, invention, and commercialization can explore partnership opportunities here:
https://t.co/YfeXJVigwW

#NAI #NAI2026 #Innovation #Invention #IntellectualProperty #Impact

[National Academy of Inventors @AcadofInventors]

Thank you to Arizona State University for sponsoring the Innovation Exchange panel titled “Competing and Collaborating on the Global Stage: How Academic Innovation Shapes National Advantage” at the National Academy of Inventors’ 15th Annual Conference.

Arizona State University is widely recognized for advancing research translation, innovation partnerships, and institutional leadership at scale.

Their sponsorship supports an important conversation examining how universities, industry, and policymakers work together to strengthen national competitiveness through invention, commercialization, and global collaboration.

Learn more: https://t.co/TUuRo4cWT7

Organizations seeking visibility among leaders in research, invention, and commercialization can explore partnership opportunities here: https://t.co/YfeXJVigwW

#NAI #NAI2026 #Innovation #Invention #IntellectualProperty #Impact

[National Academy of Inventors @AcadofInventors]

Some inventions reshape industries, generate entirely new markets, and change the course of history.

At the National Academy of Inventors’ 15th Annual Conference, this special fireside chat brings together representatives of the Dolby and Lemelson families — two names deeply connected to the history of modern invention, intellectual property, and technology commercialization.

Ray Dolby transformed how the world experiences sound through technologies that became foundational to film, music, and entertainment. Jerome Lemelson built one of the most influential independent inventor legacies in American history, generating hundreds of patents and helping shape the modern conversation around invention and patent rights.

Now, the next generation carries those legacies forward through investment, philanthropy, and continued support for inventors and innovation ecosystems.

Moderator: Phil Weilerstein, HonNAI, President and Chief Executive Officer, VentureWell

Featuring:

— David Dolby, Chief Executive Officer, Dolby Family Ventures
— Robert Lemelson, Vice President, The Lemelson Foundation

Taking place in the Loews Hollywood Hotel beside the iconic Dolby Theatre, this conversation connects invention, legacy, and the long-term impact of ideas that continue shaping industries and society.

Explore the full conference program:
https://t.co/TUuRo4cWT7

#NAI #NAI2026 #Invention #Innovation #Impact #Legacy

[National Academy of Inventors @AcadofInventors]

Strong innovation ecosystems do not happen accidentally. They emerge through sustained institutional support, active inventor communities, and programs that recognize and advance a culture of innovation.

At the NAI’s 15th Annual Conference, this panel unites leaders from NAI Chapter of Excellence finalist institutions to discuss how their campuses strengthen engagement around invention, innovation, and entrepreneurship.

Moderator: Scott Frank, HonNAI, (Retired) President & CEO, AT&T Intellectual Property; United States Intellectual Property Alliance - USIPA Chair

Panelists include:

— Matt Parson, Interim Chief Innovation and Entrepreneurship Officer, Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology Development, The University of Texas at Arlington

— Sarah Sapouckey, PhD, RTTP, Licensing Associate, University of Iowa Research Foundation

— Ryan Sharp, CEcD, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Innovation & Business Engagement, University of California, Santa Cruz

This conversation offers a look at how NAI Chapter of Excellence Award finalists build momentum.

Explore the full conference agenda:
https://t.co/yPn6CN4LVS

#NAI #NAI2026 #NAIChapter #Innovation #Invention #Entrepreneurship

[National Academy of Inventors @AcadofInventors]

Congratulations to Paul R. Sanberg, FNAI, President of the National Academy of Inventors, on receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award from the 18th Pan Pacific Symposium on Stem Cells and Cancer Research (PPSSC) in Taiwan.

The Lifetime Achievement Award honors individuals whose careers have fundamentally advanced science, medicine, and innovation through extraordinary perseverance, visionary leadership, and enduring global impact.

PPSSC recognized Dr. Sanberg's career in the USF Department of Neurosurgery, Brain and Spine advancing brain repair, stem cell research, and global academic innovation. It praised his pioneering work not only shaping scientific progress, but also inspiring countless colleagues and future generations.

Yet Dr. Sanberg’s legacy extends far beyond his own scientific achievements.

As Founder of the National Academy of Inventors, he helped catalyze a global movement recognizing and empowering academic inventors whose discoveries improve quality of life, drive economic development, and strengthen innovation ecosystems around the world. Through the creation of NAI, Dr. Sanberg established a powerful multiplier effect, elevating thousands of inventors, accelerating the translation of research into real-world impact, and helping institutions worldwide embrace innovation and inventorship as central to their mission.

His vision transformed how universities, researchers, physicians, and policymakers think about invention, intellectual property, and societal impact. Today, that influence continues to expand across generations, institutions, industries, and nations.

PPSSC recognized not only Dr. Sanberg’s scientific achievements, but also his influence as a mentor, institution builder, collaborator, and global advocate for innovation. His career has helped inspire countless scientists, physicians, inventors, entrepreneurs, and students to pursue discovery in service to society.

Dr. Sanberg received the honor prior to delivering a virtual keynote presentation at the live symposium, an event he has traveled to participate in for more than a decade. His keynote underscored the unique role physicians play as inventors, translating unmet clinical needs into life-changing innovations that directly benefit patients and society.

He also emphasized the critical importance of intellectual property in ensuring groundbreaking discoveries move beyond the laboratory to create lasting societal benefit.

Special thanks to Shinn-Zong Lin, FNAI, NAI Charter Fellow, and Superintendent of Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, for presenting this distinguished international recognition.

Congratulations again to Dr. Sanberg on this well-deserved honor recognizing a lifetime devoted to advancing science, innovation, inventorship, and human health.

#NAI #Innovation #Inventorship #StemCellResearch #Neuroscience #BrainRepair #CancerResearch #Taiwan

[National Academy of Inventors @AcadofInventors]

Artificial intelligence increasingly influences how institutions set priorities, evaluate data, and make strategic decisions.

At the NAI’s 15th Annual Conference, this panel brings together leaders across university leadership, federal AI strategy, and advanced research who are integrating AI into discovery and decision-making.

From guiding research priorities to influencing how data is interpreted and intellectual property is evaluated, they will explore how institutions are embedding AI into the core of how innovation moves forward.

Moderated by: Moez Limayem, HonNAI and NAI Sentinel Awardee, President, University of South Florida

Speakers include:

— Rob Duncan, FNAI, NAI Sentinel Awardee, Professor & President’s Distinguished Chair in Physics, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Texas Tech University

— Hossam Haick, FNAI, Full Professor and Dean of the School of Undergraduate Studies, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology

— Robert Hayes, Acting Chief AI Officer and Acting Chief Data Officer, United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO)

— Sudeep Sarkar, FNAI, NAI Founders Awardee, Distinguished University Professor and Launch Dean, Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing, University of South Florida

Learn how leading institutions are applying AI to strengthen research and inform decision making.

Learn more about the NAI's Annual Conference in Los Angeles this June 1–4:
https://t.co/TUuRo4cWT7

#NAI #NAI2026 #Innovation #Invention #AI

[National Academy of Inventors @AcadofInventors]

Innovation doesn’t move from discovery to impact on its own. It requires alignment between universities that generate foundational research and the partners who carry it forward.

At the NAI’s 15th Annual Conference, this panel unites senior leadership from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the National Science Foundation, and Qualcomm — alongside university leaders responsible for building and managing partnerships — to examine how that alignment is built and sustained.

Join us for an inside look at how collaboration actually works across sectors — where priorities meet, where they diverge, and what it takes to move ideas beyond the lab.

Moderator: John A. Squires, Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office

Panelists include:

— Fred Farina, HonNAI, Chief Innovation & Corporate Partnerships Officer, Caltech

— Erwin Gianchandani, Assistant Director for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships, National Science Foundation (NSF)

— Ram Krishnan, Senior Director of Engineering, Qualcomm, Inc.

— Luna Lu, FNAI, Vice President, Office of Industry Partnerships; ACPA Professor, Lyles School of Civil Engineering, Purdue University

For leaders guiding their institutions’ work with industry, this is a conversation not to be missed.

Learn more about the NAI's 15th Annual Conference: https://t.co/yPn6CN4LVS

#NAI #NAI2026 #Impact #Invention #Patents #Innovation

[National Academy of Inventors @AcadofInventors]

Thank you to The University of Alabama for joining the National Academy of Inventors’ 15th Annual Conference as a Digital Advertising Partner.

As a leading public research university, The University of Alabama is committed to advancing discovery, innovation, and academic excellence across disciplines.

Their presence will be visible throughout the conference experience, from attendee communications to on-site digital displays.

Join us June 1–4, 2026, at the Loews Hollywood Hotel and Dolby Ballroom in Los Angeles: https://t.co/6SrlXcJkrQ

Organizations seeking visibility among leaders in research, invention, and commercialization can explore partnership opportunities here: https://t.co/YfeXJVigwW

#NAI2026 #Innovation #Invention #Inventors #Impact

[National Academy of Inventors @AcadofInventors]

Destiny is protecting invention.

Andrei Iancu has become one of the leading voices arguing that innovation depends on strong intellectual property systems and that inventors must be able to protect the ideas they bring into the world.

As former Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), he shaped national and international conversations around patents, innovation policy, and America’s technological competitiveness.

Today, Iancu continues to advocate strongly for the role intellectual property plays in encouraging risk-taking, investment, and the development of new technologies across industries.

We are honored to welcome former USPTO Director, NAI Presidential Fellow and NAI Sentinel Awardee Andrei Iancu as a keynote speaker at the National Academy of Inventors’ 15th Annual Conference, June 1–4, 2026, in Los Angeles.

Explore the conference program:
https://t.co/TUuRo4cWT7

#NAI #NAI2026 #Invention #Innovation #Patents #IP

[National Academy of Inventors @AcadofInventors]

The NAI’s 15th Annual Conference offers multiple opportunities to engage with federal leadership in intellectual property.

John A. Squires, Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), will participate throughout the program—moderating a panel on university–industry collaboration, presenting at the Senior Member Induction Ceremony, delivering the closing keynote, and co-presiding over the Fellows Induction Ceremony.

Director Squires’ participation across the program reflects the important role intellectual property plays when innovation advances from discovery to impact—and the level of institutional leadership present throughout the conference.

Explore the full agenda: https://t.co/yPn6CN4LVS

#NAI #NAI2026 #Innovation #Invention #IP #USPTO

[National Academy of Inventors @AcadofInventors]

Thank you to the University of California, Riverside for supporting the National Academy of Inventors’ 15th Annual Conference as an Exhibit Booth Sponsor.

UCR Innovation & Entrepreneurship will be highlighting SoCal OASIS®—an initiative advancing innovation and collaboration across sustainable agriculture, ag technology, clean technology, workforce development, and climate-resilient food systems in Inland Southern California.

Through SoCal OASIS®, UCR works alongside regional partners to help strengthen connections between research, entrepreneurship, industry, and community impact while supporting the growth of emerging technologies and innovation-driven economic opportunity across the region.

As a leading public research university, UC Riverside is committed to advancing discovery, innovation, and solutions that benefit communities locally and globally.

Join us June 1-4, 2026 in Los Angeles.

To explore partnership opportunities for NAI 2026, visit: https://t.co/YfeXJVigwW

#NAI #NAI2026 #Innovation #Impact #Invention #Inventors