The journal of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI), Technology & Innovation, has released its newest issue, Volume 22, Issue 3: Diversity, Invention, and Innovation.
While women, people of color, and other individuals from historically underrepresented groups have been responsible for many important inventions, they continue to face numerous barriers. However, recent efforts by businesses, universities and the government could prove groundbreaking in enabling a more robust pathway for individuals to become inventors.
This issue of Technology & Innovation features a special editorial from Invent Together Executive Director Holly Fechner and Policy Director Morgan Schreurs and 11 articles that explore how the invention and innovation diversity gaps are stunting our nation’s innovation capacity and inhibiting opportunity and success for a large percentage of our population.
“This issue of Technology & Innovation is a continuation of our longstanding goal of the journal and our commitment as an organization to identifying barriers in the innovation space and exploring solutions that ensure every inventor has a seat at the table,” said Jamie Renee, Executive Director of NAI. “We are proud to work with our sponsors at Invent Together who share the same vision and are also working to make innovation accessible for all.”
Invent Together is an alliance of universities, nonprofits, companies, and other stakeholders dedicated to understanding the diversity gaps in invention and patenting and supporting public policy and private initiatives to close them.
“We are proud to sponsor this special edition of Technology and Innovation,” said Holly Fechner, Executive Director of Invent Together. “Diversifying who invents and patents in the United States is a challenge that we can and must meet. This issue offers readers a nuanced understanding of barriers confronting inventors from historically underrepresented groups, as well as novel solutions that can broaden participation in invention and patenting. To close wage and wealth gaps, boost U.S. economic prosperity and global competitiveness, and unleash exciting new inventions, we must act now.”
NAI is committed to further identifying inequity in invention and finding solutions that make the innovation space more accessible to underserved communities, including minorities, women, veterans, and individuals with disabilities. To advance these efforts, NAI is working with the USPTO and sponsors like Invent Together.
The new issue is now available digitally on Ingenta, and can be accessed through the NAI website.