Technology and Innovation, edited and published by the National Academy of Inventors, is a forum for presenting information encompassing the entire field of applied sciences, with a focus on transformative technology and academic innovation. Regular features of T&I include commentaries contributed by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and in-depth profiles of Fellows of the National Academy of Inventors in every issue.
Kathi Vidal, Former Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), discusses how the U.S. Department of Commerce has issued guidance on AI-assisted inventions via the USPTO and takes the lead in providing a key framework that guides our nation’s approach to AI and its intersection with intellectual property. This action was bolstered by the Executive Order on the Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence.
Michael Wallner, Michelle Zook, Joe Hutton, Cara Jorgensen, Jeff Peterson, and David Lynn of Montana State University and Brian Lewandowski of the University of Colorado, Boulder, present the impact of Sandia National Laboratories on technology transfer (T2). This study evaluates the economic outcomes of T2 contracts between Sandia National Laboratories and outside partners to quantify the economic contribution of these agreements to the U.S. economy. Findings from the study include $53.7 billion in total sales and 434,464 jobs supported.
Randolph Hall, HonNAI, Annicka Caprariello, and Amber Patel of the University of Southern California examine tenure and promotion (T&P) and IP policies at highly ranked global research universities to assess how policies account for faculty activities that broaden the impact of their scholarship, particularly through intellectual property and open scholarship. He provides example policy language to illustrate how universities can articulate evolving forms of knowledge transfer and offers recommendations for T&P that align with the university mission, encompassing both disciplinary contributions and broader public service.
Fleur Tehrani, FNAI of California State University, Fullerton, discusses the rights of academic researchers through a case study of an academic inventor defending her patent rights against a major manufacturer of ICU ventilators.
Jingwen Qian of Google, Sujoy Sikdar of Binghamton University, Ge Wang, FNAI of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and Lirong Xia of Rutgers University–New Brunswick have developed a new approach to address the problem of minimizing collusion gain — the increase in students’ test scores when they cheat by colluding with each other — in distanced online testing (DOT). The need for remote education has triggered a recent rise in the adoption of DOT due to social distancing requirements in the face of the COVID-19 global pandemic, technological advancements enabling widespread adoption, and the rise in demand for high-quality education necessitating better methods to address and prevent cheating.
Nasser Arshadi of the University of Missouri–St. Louis introduces blockchain as a potentially powerful technology that can significantly reduce transaction costs and affect the structure of corporations and financial intermediaries. He begins by explaining blockchain technology and its workings and then presents its impact. He examines blockchain’s application in real estate finance and demonstrates how it can reduce or eliminate the role of multiple intermediaries in transactions.
Ge Wang, FNAI, of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; Helena S. Wisniewski, FNAI, of the University of Alaska Anchorage; and Kenrick Mock of the University of Alaska Anchorage discuss revolutionizing education with large AI-language models. With the release of ChatGPT in November 2022, there was a significant step toward artificial general intelligence, which increased public awareness of AI and its applications. The authors explore current applications of large AI-language models, discuss how they can revolutionize teaching and learning, and propose thoughts for improved or new AI applications in education. They describe the educational utilities of ChatGPT and similar AI models, analyze the philosophical implications of large AI models for the future of education, and conclude with suggested action items.
Alpana Desai of the University of Alaska Anchorage explores the role of business schools in AI. She notes that the demand for AI-trained professionals grows yearly, with companies increasing their spending on AI initiatives. However, organizations struggle to find employees with the necessary AI qualifications and skills for application in an organizational setting. The author discusses how business schools can meet these needs by identifying AI competencies they can offer and incorporating these competencies into their curricula.
Nathan Wang of Johns Hopkins University, Congressman Paul Tonko, Nikil Ragav of InventXYZ, and Michael Chungyoun and Jonathan Plucker of Johns Hopkins University provide a perspective on K-12 AI education. They emphasize that as AI rapidly changes our daily lives, we face the challenge of preparing our society for an AI-driven future. A critical step in this preparation is ensuring an AI-ready workforce through education. The authors discuss the benefits of learning AI for motivating students and promoting creative thinking and how to develop a module-based approach to optimize learning outcomes. They hope to inspire and engage more members of the education community to advance K-12 AI education in the United States and worldwide.
At the Eleventh Annual Meeting of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI), “Defining the Future: Inventing for Tomorrow,” NAI President Paul R. Sanberg highlighted the year’s advancements, including a diversity initiative with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, updates on existing programs, and the introduction of the new Sentinel Award.
George P. Smith posits that scientific progress and technological advancements result from global collaboration, where investigators share ideas and resources. While individual contributions are important, true creativity and innovation occur when these ideas are shared with the broader community. He goes on to argue that excessive reliance on government-enforced patent monopolies, instead of direct public spending, can disrupt scientific communities, hinder creativity, raise prices, increase wealth inequality, and distort market incentives, particularly concerning essential sectors like pharmaceuticals, which are a public good and crucial for economic and social justice.
Crystal S. Leach and Karen J.L. Burg focus on The University of Georgia’s Innovation Bootcamp, an intensive entrepreneurship training program, which is aimed at increasing the participation of under-represented groups in the existing innovation ecosystem, with the ultimate goal of diversification. The eight-week program follows a flexible, three-pronged approach that includes foundational commercialization training while tailoring skill-building and community-building elements to the specific needs of the target cohort. The program focuses on providing tailored training and support to enhance the participation and success of under-represented groups in existing entrepreneurship programs without aiming to establish an alternative ecosystem.
R. V. Duncan et al. note that regional universities are experiencing rapid growth in their research impact and overall significance, contributing to positive social change. They highlight collaborations between national laboratories and major research universities, particularly those emphasizing nearby educational institutions, that are expanding state-of-the-art research facilities in previously under-capitalized regions. They also suggest that many regional research universities, including the University of South Florida, are both Carnegie R1 and Minority Serving Institutions, especially R1 and Hispanic Serving Institutions, indicating a potential for increased influence, impact, and prestige in response to shifting demographics in the United States.
Elizabeth Cantwell recognized that The University of Arizona, as a public R1 university and the state’s designated land-grant institution, has a key role in addressing global challenges through inventive solutions, spanning climate change, disease prevention, planetary defense, and artificial intelligence. To navigate the evolving research landscape effectively, the university advocates for the cultivation and nurturing of a robust entrepreneurial thinking culture. The article positions UArizona’s programmatic strengths in innovation and entrepreneurship as a model for other public R1 universities aiming to meaningfully tackle societal challenges.
Gregory P. Crawford explores the keys to building an innovative and entrepreneurial campus ecosystem. As corporations reduce basic research and seek less risky ideas, the demand for innovation in health, energy, technology, and ecology grows. This article suggests that colleges and universities, regardless of classification, can capitalize on this opportunity by developing entrepreneurial ecosystems and outlines the experiences and practices that foster creativity, entrepreneurship, and collaborative efforts, ultimately advancing higher education’s mission to benefit both students and society.
Cengiz S. Ozkan et al. show that to cultivate the next generation of innovators, universities must shift from traditional structures–fostering collaborative partnerships and reimagining curriculum delivery. The article explores forward-looking strategies, emphasizing best practices for entrepreneurial leaders who prioritize social impact, aiming to inform educational approaches that empower diverse and inclusive participation, helping students navigate and overcome longstanding risks and barriers.
Mihrimah Ozkan et al. argue that unlocking the potential of creativity and innovation requires active engagement across the entire innovation ecosystem, fostering collaborative spaces among administration, faculty, students, and industry. The discussion emphasizes the pillars of innovation, underscores the critical role of faculty and technology transfer offices, and acknowledges the importance of diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice for creating sustainable and impactful innovations.
In her address to this year’s National Academy of Inventors Fellows, Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) Kathi Vidal praised the accomplishments of the NAI for its crucial role in promoting inventions and innovation. She also highlighted the significant contributions of the NAI Fellows, including 42,000 patents, $3 trillion in economic output, and an emphasis on diversity and expressed gratitude for those efforts on behalf of the USPTO, Secretary of Commerce, and President Biden.
Jane Muir, Megan Aanstoos, Tamsen Barrett, Almesha Campbell, Forough Ghahramani, Jennifer Gottwald, Kirsten Leute, Nichole Mercier, and Jennifer Shockro offer a set of recommendations on how best to engage women and other under-represented groups in academic innovation.
