TAMPA, Fla., Dec. 15, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Academy of Inventors (NAI) has named 168 leaders of invention and innovation to Fellow status.

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Those named today bring the total number of NAI Fellows to 582, representing over 190 research universities and governmental and non-profit research institutes. The 2015 Fellows account for 5,368 issued U.S. patents, bringing the collective patents held by all NAI Fellows to more than 20,000.

Included among all NAI Fellows are more than 80 presidents and senior leaders of research universities and non-profit research institutes, 310 members of the other National Academies (NAS, NAE, NAM), 27 inductees of the National Inventors Hall of Fame, 32 recipients of the U.S. National Medal of Technology and Innovation and U.S. National Medal of Science, 27 Nobel Laureates, 14 Lemelson-MIT Prize recipients, 170 AAAS Fellows, and 98 IEEE Fellows, among other awards and distinctions. 

Election to NAI Fellow status is a high professional distinction accorded to academic inventors who have demonstrated a highly prolific spirit of innovation in creating or facilitating outstanding inventions that have made a tangible impact on quality of life, economic development, and welfare of society.

The NAI Fellows will be inducted on 15 April 2016, as part of the Fifth Annual Conference of the National Academy of Inventors at the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). USPTO Commissioner for Patents Andrew Hirshfeld will provide the keynote address for the induction ceremony. In honor of their outstanding accomplishments, Fellows will be presented with a special trophy, medal, and rosette pin.

"The new class of NAI Fellows showcases a phenomenal group of academics whose discoveries lead the way for the future of invention," said Arthur Molella, Director Emeritus, Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation. "I am delighted to support the NAI and their unique mission. We look forward to welcoming and honoring the 2015 Fellows this April in Washington D.C."

"Congratulations to the 2015 NAI Fellows on earning this well-deserved distinction and joining an impressive group of academic inventors," said USPTO Commissioner for Patents Andrew Hirshfeld. "It was my honor to serve on the 2015 Fellows Selection Committee. The NAI Fellows Program plays an important role in highlighting our nation's most prolific inventors and their accomplishments, which provide vital support for our economy."

The 2015 NAI Fellows will be recognized with a full page announcement in The Chronicle of Higher Education 22 Jan. 2016 issue, and in upcoming issues of Inventors Digest and NAI journal Technology and Innovation.

Those elected to the rank of NAI Fellow are named inventors on U.S. patents and were nominated by their peers for outstanding contributions to innovation in areas such as patents and licensing, innovative discovery and technology, significant impact on society, and support and enhancement of innovation.

The 2015 NAI Fellows Selection Committee included 17 members, comprising NAI Fellows, recipients of U.S. National Medals, National Inventors Hall of Fame inductees, members of the National Academies and senior officials from the USPTO, Association of American Universities, American Association for the Advancement of Science, Association of University Technology Managers, and National Inventors Hall of Fame.

"It is my privilege to welcome the 2015 class of outstanding academic inventors to the Academy as Fellows," said NAI President Dr. Paul R. Sanberg. "These inspiring individuals have made remarkable contributions to society through their work in research and discovery as well as in patents, licensing, and commercialization. They encourage a culture where invention and innovation is brought to the forefront and it is an honor to recognize their tremendous accomplishments with NAI Fellow status."

Complete list of NAI Fellows: http://academyofinventors.org/search-fellows.asp.

The National Academy of Inventors is a 501(c)(3) non-profit member organization comprising U.S. and international universities, and governmental and non-profit research institutes, with over 3,000 individual inventor members and Fellows spanning more than 200 institutions, and growing rapidly. It was founded in 2010 to recognize and encourage inventors with patents issued from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, enhance the visibility of academic technology and innovation, encourage the disclosure of intellectual property, educate and mentor innovative students, and translate the inventions of its members to benefit society. The NAI offices are located in the University of South Florida Research Park.  The NAI edits the multidisciplinary journal, Technology and Innovation, published by Cognizant Communication Corporation (NY). www.academyofinventors.org

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SOURCE National Academy of Inventors

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