Spotlight
Entrepreneurs: National Model
| USF News
When Paul Sanberg conceived the idea for the USF Academy of Inventors in 2009, he envisioned creating a national model. That vision became a reality last year when the USF academy became the founding chapter of the National Academy of InventorsTM. Sanberg, USF senior associate vice president for Research & Innovation, serves as its president.
The academy recognizes academic inventors who have a patent from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and promotes innovation. It has more than 500 members from 17 member institutions, including three not-for-profit research institutions and one international affiliate.
Members' innovations are diverse, including nanotechnology applications, new medical devices, bioengineered cells, tracking devices for people with dementia and many more. Both the USF organization and the national academy play an important role in the translation of science and technology within the university community for the benefit of society.
"Without the creations of thousands of inventors on campuses and in laboratories across the globe, without their determination to discover new ways to solve seemingly intractable problems, without academic research and innovation, our world would be poorer indeed," says Sanberg. "These inventors are responsible for innumerable medical, scientific, artistic, engineering and other breakthroughs that save lives, create jobs, make us healthier, safer and more productive, add beauty to our world, uncover its mysteries, and build a better future for our children, and our children's children."
In addition to recognizing faculty inventors and their contributions to the university community and society, the academy edits an interdisciplinary journal, Technology and Innovation - Proceedings of the National Academy of Inventors. The quarterly publication showcases the positive impact of novel technologies discovered in universities.