Eligibility Requirements

Candidates for the $500,000 Lemelson-MIT Prize must:

• be U.S. citizens or permanent residents
• Be mid-career, which is defined as having received their bachelor’s degree during or after 1988 if they graduated from college
• be the primary inventor of two or more U.S. patents, one of which is a product or process that has been commercialized or has potential or realized adoption
• work in one (or more) of the following categories: medicine and healthcare, computers and telecommunications, consumer products, energy and environment, or industrial products
• serve as an inspiration to young people, through their creativity, outreach or mentoring activities

Candidates may be individuals or two collaborating inventors, and they must be nominated by one of their peers.

Winners will be invited and encouraged to participate in Lemelson-MIT Program activities, including outreach opportunities to inspire young people to pursue creative lives and careers.

Lemelson-MIT Prize Home | Definition of Technological Invention | Nomination Instructions | Mailing Nominations