Nominations sought for 2024 National Medal of Technology and Innovation; March 12 webinar will answer questions 

The USPTO seeks nominations for the 2024 National Medal of Technology and Innovation (NMTI), the nation’s highest honor for technological achievement, presented by the president of the United States.

The NMTI medal is awarded to individuals, teams (up to four individuals), and companies or divisions of companies for their outstanding contributions to the nation. The medal recognizes American innovators whose vision, intellect, creativity, and determination have strengthened America’s economy and improved our quality of life.

Past laureates (medal recipients) include:

  • Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak for the invention of the personal computer (1985);
  • Grace Murray Hopper for her pioneering accomplishments in the development of computer programming languages that simplified computer technology (1991);
  • Jim West for co-inventing the electret microphone (2006);
  • Frances Arnold for groundbreaking research on biofuels and chemicals that could lead to the replacement of pollution-generating materials (2011);
  • Rory A. Cooper for developing cutting-edge wheelchair technologies and mobility devices (2023).

Anyone can submit an NMTI nomination by using the online nomination form and providing letters of support. The USPTO must receive all nominations by 11:59 p.m. ET, May 3, 2024. We encourage nominations of candidates from traditionally underrepresented groups.

Detailed information about the nomination guidelines, a preview of the nomination questions, and a link to the nomination form are available at uspto.gov/nmti. For more information about the award and the nomination process, contact [email protected].

NMTI staff will host a webinar to answer questions about the award and the process on March 12 at 2 p.m. ET. To attend, visit uspto.gov/about-us/events.