Tampa, FL – July 10, 2026
The National Academy of Inventors (NAI) is pleased to announce the recipients of its prestigious annual awards, which were presented during the 15th NAI Annual Conference in Los Angeles, California. Serving as a catalyst for collaboration and discovery, NAI’s Annual Conference brings together the world’s brightest minds, boldest ideas, and most influential innovation ecosystem leaders for an unforgettable week of insightful discussions, prestigious celebrations, and immersive networking opportunities. This event serves as a premier opportunity to recognize innovators and thought leaders whose inventions create considerable impact and shape the future. This year, the conference featured eight awards that celebrate invention, leadership, and philanthropy.
“Since the inception of the Academy, a core component of our mission has been to recognize and celebrate individuals and institutions shaping our destiny, while cultivating innovation at local, state, and national levels. I cannot think of a better place to honor these incredible inventors than at our Annual Conference, where they can be rightfully celebrated by fellow innovators, entrepreneurs, and government leaders,” said Paul R. Sanberg, FNAI, President of The NAI.
A Legacy of Innovation
Since 2024, the Academy has partnered with generous NAI Fellows and Member Institutions to recognize excellence in focused disciplines and sectors through legacy awards. These awards highlight their dedication to the Academy’s mission, and honor experienced and next generation inventors and the critical role they play in advancing technology and innovation.
The Genspiration Prize awards excellence in student innovation and honors individual inventors or teams at K-8, 9-12, and University levels whose innovations demonstrate the potential for significant positive societal impact. The Genspiration Prize, made possible by the Genspiration Foundation, was co-founded by Judy Genshaft, FNAI, a longtime supporter of the Academy and former President of NAI Member Institution the University of South Florida. The 2026 Genspiration Prize Winners are:
- K-8 Category: Henry Carlson, California Invention Convention for “Grip ‘N’ Slip 2.0”
- 9-12 Category: Brad T. Wu, STEAM National Honor Society for “NeuroReach”
- University Category: Suyog Neupane and Kritazya Upreti, The University of Texas at Arlington for “Two Degrees of Freedom Soft Pneumatic Wrist Exoskeleton”
The Dr. Barry Bercu Biomedical University Inventor Prize recognizes exceptional student invention in the field of biomedicine. The Prize was created by the Bercu family in memoriam of Barry B. Bercu, FNAI, to recognize biomedical innovations with the potential to create solutions that increase quality of patient care. This year’s awardee was Anastasia Marx from the University of Georgia. She was recognized for her invention which prevents and disrupts biofilms through a synthesized molecule, reducing bacterial infection in patients.
The Yogi and Lovely Goswami Award in Energy and Sustainability honors distinguished individuals who have left an indelible mark in the field of energy and sustainability throughout their illustrious careers. This award is made possible by the generosity of Yogi Goswami, FNAI, a longtime Fellow of the Academy who has dedicated his career to creating sustainable energy solutions. This year’s recipient was Issa Batarseh from the University of Central Florida. Batarseh was recognized for his contributions in energy systems, power electronics, renewable energy technologies, and sustainable innovation.
The NAI-DOE Innovator of the Year Award was developed in partnership with the US Department of Energy Office of Technology Commercialization, an NAI Sustaining Member Institution. This award recognizes DOE innovators and lab researchers whose invaluable contributions have advanced technology transfer and commercialization results across the DOE National Laboratories, plants, and sites. This year’s recipient was Scott Whalen from the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory for his pioneering work in solid-phase processing and advanced manufacturing.
Academy Champions
Granted awards also included the Academy’s long-standing and highest recognitions. These awards honor individuals and inventive institutions who have contributed greatly to the history and mission of NAI, and their indelible impacts on the innovation ecosystem.
The conference opened with the Welcome Reception, in which Mark A. Stevens, HonNAI, Founder of the USC Stevens Center for Innovation, was awarded the inaugural NAI Innovation Philanthropy Award. This award was created to recognize individuals whose philanthropy has strengthened innovation ecosystems, expanded opportunities for inventors and entrepreneurs, accelerated the translation of research into societal benefit, and created enduring pathways for future discovery. Stevens was recognized for his contributions to building transformative companies and advancing groundbreaking technologies, as well as investing in the people and institutions that make future innovation possible.
The University of Iowa Research Foundation (UIRF) received the NAI Chapter of Excellence Award, which honors NAI Chapters for their dedication to the Academy’s mission. UIRF was recognized for its robust Chapter offerings and resources, which include a focus on IP education, mentorship of student inventors, and increased visibility of invention on campus.
The NAI Founder’s Award, which honors incredible individuals and institutions whose time and expertise were instrumental to the Academy’s foundational vision and impact, was awarded to Karen Holbrook, FNAI, Chancellor of the University of South Florida Sarasota–Manatee. Holbrook was recognized for being one of the Academy’s earliest and most dedicated supporters, helping guide its growth, strengthen its foundation, and champion its mission during critical moments in its history.
The NAI Presidential Fellow Award was presented to Robert Langer, FNAI, Institute Professor at Langer Lab, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Gary Michelson, FNAI, Founder and Co-Chair of Michelson Philanthropies. This award was established to recognize exceptional leaders in the innovation ecosystem that uphold the Academy’s mission, while making an indelible impact. Langer was recognized for his pioneering contributions to science, engineering, biotechnology, mentorship, entrepreneurship, and profound influence on generations of innovators across the world. Michelson was recognized for his extraordinary contributions to medical innovation, intellectual property leadership, invention education, philanthropy, and unwavering commitment to empowering future innovators.
The 15th Annual Conference celebrations culminated at the closing Gala, where Dr. Paul Sanberg, FNAI, President of the NAI was awarded the inaugural Visionary Award. The award was created and awarded by the NAI Board of Directors to recognize the vision and foresight of creating lasting contributions to the innovation ecosystem. The night concluded in the announcement of the 2027 conference that will be held June 14th-17th in Arlington, Texas.
Learn more about the 2027 conference and sign up to be notified when registration opens.
To see more pictures from this year’s conference, visit the NAI photo gallery.
