At this annual inaugural event, the Office of the Vice Provost for Research celebrates faculty who have achieved a milestone in commercializing their research in fiscal years 2020, 2021, and 2022.

Our awardees have had a first US patent issued on their disclosed invention and/or had their disclosed invention commercially optioned or licensed to a company. These are promising steps in translating academic research into impactful products for public good.

Additionally, we are pleased to share that Tufts has launched a Tufts Chapter of the National Academy of Inventors. The Tufts NAI Chapter will serve as a powerful collaborative organization that will allow us to recognize and honor local inventors, researchers, and innovators in our community and to further promote and foster the spirit of innovation in our community.

Resuming this annual event after a three-year hiatus, The Office of the Vice Provost plans to celebrate the entrepreneurial spirit of the outstanding faculty and staff from Tufts’ research community. 

This formal celebration is being hosted to recognize:

1. Faculty who have had a first-in-family US patent or a continuation patent issued in fiscal years 2020-2022.
2. Faculty whose intellectual property was licensed or optioned to a commercial entity in fiscal years 2020-2022.
3. Faculty Innovators of the Year for fiscal year 2022 for their contributions to and impact on the University at various stages in their careers.

Vice Provost for Research Bernard Arulanandam will present the honorees with their awards. Alongside President Tony Monaco, Provost and Senior Vice President Caroline Genco, and Technology Transfer and Industry Collaboration staff, deans and department chairs are invited to be in attendance to congratulate their faculty awardees. Tufts proudly supports the entrepreneurial aspirations of its faculty and looks forward to congratulating our honored guests.

PROGRAM

INNOVATOR AWARDS

Rising Innovator of the Year

Award Description

Rising Innovator of the Year award recipients are Tufts faculty (tenure track, research or clinical), who having received their terminal degree less than 15 years ago, demonstrate an ambitious entrepreneurial spirit by actively developing new innovations and moving them to the market.

Award Criteria

Rising Innovator of the Year award recipients will have accomplished one or more of the following:

• Demonstrated ideation of breakthrough ideas, processes, or technologies through submission of Invention Disclosures that have been approved for patent filing.
• Actively engaged in translation of innovations by marketing the technology to VCs or companies or funding agencies, and demonstrating commercial viability.
• Taken a significant innovation developed in the University through to market-readiness, either through partnership with a commercial enterprise, licensing a patent, or by starting a company.

Distinguished Innovator of the Year

Award Description

Distinguished Innovator of the Year award recipients are Tufts faculty (tenure track, research or clinical), who display an exemplary entrepreneurial spirit and service to the institution by not only moving new technologies from the University laboratory to the market, but also broadly supporting innovation at Tufts through mentoring, collaboration and partnership.

Award Criteria

Distinguished Innovator of the Year award recipients will have accomplished one or more of the following:

• Taken multitude of innovations developed in the University through to market-readiness, either through partnership with a commercial enterprise, licensing a patent, or by starting a company.
• Demonstrated a commitment to shaping the future all innovators through collaboration and mentorship of students, early-career faculty and peers within the University.
• Demonstrated a new method or means for moving innovations from the University into the private sector through the establishment of partnerships or other relationships that promote the strategic or economic position of the region, state or nation.

ISSUED PATENTS

Recipients are (1) Tufts faculty inventors of a first-in-family US patent that issued in FY20, FY21 and FY22 and (2) previously unawarded Tufts faculty inventors of a continuation patent that issued in FY20, FY21 and FY22.

LICENSES AND OPTIONS

Recipients are Tufts faculty inventors whose patents or copyrights were optioned or licensed to a company or organization in FY20, FY21 and FY22.