Bill Introduced to Grant Federal Charter to National Academy of Inventors

TAMPA, Fla., Feb. 9, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- U.S. Rep. Dennis A. Ross (R-FL-15) has introduced H.R. 976, a bill to grant federal charter to the National Academy of Inventors (NAI). This bipartisan legislation would recognize the importance of the NAI's mission of advancing a culture where academic invention and innovation is celebrated for its role in fueling our nation's economy.

The NAI is a non-profit member organization comprised of more than 240 U.S. and international universities, and governmental and non-profit research institutions, with more than 3,000 individual inventor members and Fellows.

H.R. 976 would provide an honorific designation symbolizing the significance of the NAI's mission, goals and objectives in benefiting the public. The charter would also allow NAI members to be called upon as advisors by any department of the government. NAI members are contributors to fields including medicine, cybersecurity, veteran's research, and engineering among many others.

The NAI Fellows Program has 757 Fellows worldwide representing more than 229 prestigious universities and governmental and non-profit research institutions. Collectively, the Fellows hold more than 26,000 issued U.S. patents.  According to the 2016 NAI Activities Report, published in July 2016, NAI Fellows have generated more than 8,500 licensed technologies and companies and created more than 1.1 million jobs, with more than $100 billion in revenue generated based on their discoveries.

"NAI members among our universities are producing groundbreaking technologies and translating them into innovative products, processes, cures, and treatments, for the betterment of society," Ross said, "I am proud to introduce this important bill to help further the mission of the NAI and allow their members to serve our government as subject matter experts on innovation, intellectual property, translational research and commercialization."

The NAI is seeking additional support for this bill which currently has two original co-sponsors including: Daniel Lipinski [IL-3] and Rep. Kathy Castor [FL-14].

"We are very grateful to Congressman Ross and the supporting co-sponsors for introducing this important charter bill which recognizes the vital role academic innovation plays in moving our nation forward," said Paul R. Sanberg, the NAI's founder and president and the Senior Vice President for Research, Innovation & Economic Development at the University of South Florida.

"For generations, America's academic inventors have been at the forefront of modernizing every aspect of our lives and keeping our nation economically strong and competitive. A federal charter for the National Academy of Inventors serves the public good in supporting intellectual property, translational research and commercialization. We are honored to be considered for this recognition and to continue the NAI's work in supporting and advancing the cause of innovation and invention."

For more information on how to encourage your congressional delegation to support this initiative, please contact Keara Leach at 813-974-5862, [email protected].

SOURCE National Academy of Inventors