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Honoring a Lifetime of Inventive Contributions to
Society
From medical breakthroughs to technological advancement to scientific
discovery, one individual's inventions can have a profound impact
on society. The Lemelson-MIT Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes
outstanding individuals whose pioneering spirit and demonstrated
inventiveness throughout their careers has improved our society
and inspired others. Once honorary, the award now includes a $100,000
prize.
Past award winners include Dr. Ruth Rogan Benerito, innovator of
the textile industry; Raymond Damadian, inventor of the first magnetic
resonance scanning machine; and Al Gross, a wireless technology
pioneer. Learn more about previous honorees in our Winners'
Circle.
Eligibility Requirements
Candidates for this award are living role models in the fields of
science, engineering, medicine and technology. They are U.S. citizens
or permanent residents whose life-long careers in invention and
innovation have had a significant impact on society. These individuals
have the potential to be roles models and inspire inventiveness
in others. There are no patent requirements for this award. The
Lemelson-MIT Lifetime Achievement Award may be awarded to an individual
or to two collaborators in a specific invention.
Selection Process
The Lemelson-MIT Program invites leaders from industry, research,
academia and government to nominate candidates for the Lifetime
Achievement Award. Two independent committees—the Screening
Committee and Jury—comprised of experts in science, engineering,
medicine, technology and business, review the nominations and select
finalists. The Lemelson-MIT Board ratifies the winner, who is notified
by the Director and honored at an annual awards celebration in April.
The Lemelson Foundation does not play a role in the final selection
of the Lemelson-MIT Lifetime Achievement Award winner.
Nomination Process
- Determine which award the candidate should be considered for—the
$500,000 Lemelson-MIT Prize or $100,000 Lemelson-MIT Lifetime
Achievement Award. Candidates cannot be nominated for both awards.
- Indicate the category or categories (no more than two) in which
the candidate should be considered.
- Complete, sign and date the nomination form.
- Include the following materials in your nomination packet:
- Nomination form
Available for download on the right-hand
column of this page.
- Description of candidate's inventiveness:
Please tell us why your candidate should be recognized by the Lemelson-MIT
Program. Include a description of the inventor’s accomplishments
and their impact upon and/or benefit to society (not to exceed
750 words).
- Biographical summary:
Please highlight your candidate’s most significant distinctions, within the following areas, on one
single-sided 8.5 x 11 page (bullet format is preferred): experience,
education, awards & distinctions, patents & publications,
copyrights & trademarks, invited lectures & conferences.
- Candidate's curriculum vitae or resume:
Please submit no more than five single-sided 8.5 x 11” pages.
- Documentation of candidate's patents:
Please provide a minimum of two patent abstracts and no more than five. Additionally,
you may add a list of the numbers and titles of the candidate’s
remaining patents. As a reminder, there are no patent requirements
for the Lifetime Achievement Award.
- Letters of recommendation:
Please submit three letters of recommendation. Recommenders should describe their affiliation
with the candidate and provide their name, title, organization,
department, address, telephone, email and fax number. Each letter
of recommendation should be no more than two single-sided 8.5
x11” pages.
- Other pertinent materials (within guidelines):
You have the option of providing materials supporting the candidate's achievements,
such as professional articles and press clippings. Additional
materials should be single-sided 8.5 x 11" pages; please
do not include more than 10 pages total.
- Send one original (unbound, single-sided) and three bound copies
of each of the complete nomination packet to the Lemelson-MIT
Program Office.
Nominations must be complete and conform to the above criteria.
No supplemental information will be accepted unless requested by
the Lemelson-MIT Program. You may nominate more than one candidate.
If you have any questions, please call the Lemelson-MIT
Program office at 617-253-3352.
Information about the candidate provided by the nomination documentation
may be used to prepare public education materials. In addition,
in keeping with the Lemelson-MIT Program’s educational and
outreach mission, the winner of the $500,000 Lemelson-MIT Prize
and $100,000 Lemelson-MIT Lifetime Achievement Award will be asked
to participate in media activities around the announcement.
The $100,000 Lemelson-MIT Lifetime Achievement Award is part of
a comprehensive program administered by the Lemelson-MIT Program
and established by The Lemelson Foundation to raise the stature
of inventors and to inspire innovation among young people.
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