The $500,000 Lemelson-MIT Prize recognizes individuals who translate their ideas into inventions and innovations that improve the world in which we live.
Dubbed the "Oscar for Inventors," the Lemelson-MIT Prize is awarded to outstanding mid-career inventors, who have developed a patented product or process of significant value to society, which has been adopted for practical use, or has a high probability of being adopted. By recognizing and funding younger, mid-career inventors, the prize is designed to spur inventive careers and provide role models for future generations of inventors.
The Lemelson-MIT Prize seeks to highlight the pivotal role inventive activity plays in the achievement of positive social, cultural and economic goals. The objectives of the Lemelson-MIT Prize are to:
recognize and reward America’s outstanding mid-career inventors
encourage broad dissemination of invention(s) to achieve maximum impact
celebrate individuals who enhance economic opportunity and community well-being through their inventive work
foster continued inventive work that creates opportunities and overcomes challenges
increase awareness of the work of inventors and the potential for commercialization and wider adoption of their inventions
promote role models who can inspire young people to pursue creative lives and careers
Definition of Technological Invention
Technological invention is the process of devising and producing — by independent investigation, experimentation, and mental activity — something that is useful and that was not previously known or existing. Technological invention involves advances in the art and science of creatively applying knowledge for use in non-routine problem solving or new opportunity creation. This form of invention results in a wide range of outputs (i.e., new technological products or processes) that can have a positive impact upon human development. Invention is the "wellspring" of innovation; the latter often serves as a conduit for inventions to achieve social benefit.
Technological invention often involves crossing boundaries or past practice and convention, tying together academic disciplines in unexpected ways, redefining not only means but also often the problem itself, and challenging entrenched beliefs about the limits of the possible.
Macro-inventions are [technological] inventions of sufficient import that change the way we live and spawn many improvement inventions, micro-inventions. The Lemelson-MIT Program seeks to recognize the importance and impact of both macro- and micro-technological inventions and evaluates them within their respective economic, social and cultural contexts.
Candidates for the $500,000 Lemelson-MIT Prize must:
be U.S. citizens or permanent residents
be mid-career as defined by receiving their bachelor's degree after July, 1 1985 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.
First, complete the online nomination cover letter. Second, after the cover letter has been completed and submitted online, please prepare the nine sections for the candidate's nomination packet, carefully adhering to the following instructions:
Copy the section header title, e.g., "Inventor Profile Summary" (indicated in bold) to start and identify each of the 10 sections on a new page in the nomination packet. Thus, each section must be on a separate, unique page from the other sections (e.g., "Inventor Profile Summary" must be on a page separate from the "Description of Technological Inventiveness" page).
Follow the order of the sections as you organize the nomination packet (i.e., 1-10).
Include the section title on a single page and indicate "N/A" if one of the sections is inapplicable to the candidate.
Provide all materials on single-sided 8.5"x11" pages only (no double-sided pages).
Use a 12-point font, preferably "Times New Roman."
Use single spacing for all text.
Set margins no smaller than 1" on left, right, top and bottom.
Strictly observe all page and word limits. The complete nomination packet must be at least 12 pages to fulfill the minimum nomination packet requirements and at most 46 pages.
Restrict the attachment of photos, if applicable, to two places only (1) "Youth Outreach and Experience" and (2) "Optional Materials."
Provide completed nomination packet unbound (no hole-punches, staples, etc.); paper or binder clip is acceptable.
As a courtesy to the many distinguished individuals who volunteer their time to help make the awards process possible, we ask that you strictly observe all of the guidelines for submission. Please note that nominations that do not follow the above instructions will be disqualified from consideration. Thank you in advance for your consideration.
Nominator Disclosure Form
The nominator disclosure form helps to validate the nominator’s knowledge of the nominee, create greater transparency for review, and ensure greater uniformity in the interpretation of nominee and nominator relationships on the part of Lemelson-MIT Prize reviewers. The form should be printed, completed, and included with the nomination dossier packet.
Inventor Profile Summary
Explain why the candidate should be recognized and rewarded. Summarize the candidate's major technologically inventive accomplishments and why he/she is being nominated for the prize. Limit the summary to 75 words or one-half of a page. (Please refer to the Definition of Technological Invention.)
Description of Technological Inventiveness
Expand upon the nominee’s major technological invention(s): Explain what they are, and why they are significant. Describe how the candidate's inventive accomplishments have had or could have a beneficial impact upon society. Describe how the prize could potentially enhance the candidate's inventive work. Limit the description to 375 words or one page. (Please refer to Definition of Technological Invention.)
Statement of Commercialization/Potential or Realized Adoption of Inventions
Please describe how the nominee's inventions have been commercialized for broader use or have the potential to be adopted for wider dissemination. Limit the description to 375 words or one page.
Biography
Explain what distinguishes the candidate. Provide a narrative description that highlights the candidate’s major accomplishments, including important experiences, awards, recognitions, publications, copyrights, trademarks, and invited lectures and conferences. Limit the biography to a one-page summary.
Youth Outreach Interest and Experience
Describe ways the candidate has participated or shown an interest in youth outreach. Explain why the candidate might be an exemplary role model for young people. If the candidate is an academic, please describe outreach activities that reach beyond the typical responsibilities of a faculty member (e.g., student advising). Limit the description to one page.
Curriculum Vitae or Resume
Limit to five pages (summarize where necessary).
Patent Documentation
Submit a minimum of two and a maximum of five full patent abstracts. Each of the two to five patent abstracts must include the patent number, title and authors (list authors in the order in which they appear on the patent documentation). A supplemental list composed of only patent numbers, titles and authors (listed in the order in which they appear on the patent document) may be submitted if the candidate has more than five patents. Limit the supplemental list to three pages; no abstracts will be accepted in this list.
Recommendations
Three letters of recommendation are required, of which one must be submitted by the nominator. The recommendation should address but need not be limited to the candidate’s strengths as an inventor and as an inventor role model; an assessment of the value of the inventor’s contributions to his/her field; and a specific description of differentiating characteristics that help to set the candidate apart from other inventors in his/her field.
Recommenders should describe their affiliation with the candidate and specifically disclose any material relationships to the candidate (e.g., co-investor, current business partner, former business partner, etc.).
The letters should also be on official letterhead or otherwise state the recommender’s full name, title, employer, department, address, email address, telephone and fax number. Limit each letter to two pages.
Optional Materials
Other pertinent materials to support the candidate's achievements may be provided, such as professional articles and press clippings. Limit to 10 pages.
Learn more about previous Lemelson-MIT Prize recipients in our Winners' Circle. Please note that different eligibility criteria were applied to the prize from 1995 to 2006.
Send the original nomination packet (unbound, single-sided) to the Lemelson-MIT Program office via FedEx, DHL or UPS ONLY. We will not accept nomination packets sent through United States Postal Service (USPS) standard mail or USPS special delivery.
Mailing Address
Lemelson-MIT Program
Attn: Lemelson-MIT Awards
MIT School of Engineering
30 Memorial Dr., E60-215
Cambridge, MA 02142
617-253-3352
Information about the candidate presented in the nomination packet may be used to prepare public educational materials, if the candidate is selected as the prize recipient. If you have questions after carefully reviewing all of the instructions, please contact the Lemelson-MIT Program Awards Officer at, Lemelson_Awards@mit.edu.
