WASHINGTON, March 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — The National Academy of Inventors (NAI) today announced a Joint Project Agreement (JPA) with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) in a mutual effort to expand diversity, l equity, inclusion and access to invention and innovation ecosystems.

With this five-year agreement, both parties seek to expand access to NAI and USPTO resources to historically underserved communities, which include minorities, women, veterans and people with disabilities.

“The Joint Project Agreement is critical to our mission to expand access to the innovation ecosystem,” said Drew Hirschfeld, currently serving as Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO. “The NAI community of academic and institutional inventors offers a unique network dedicated to innovation and intellectual property education and we look forward to partnering with them to expand access and inclusion.”

The agreement targets two key programs within NAI’s suite of online tools: its mentorship platform, the Global Academic Inventors Network (GAIN) and the IP Certification course. In addition to adding more functionality to both resources, NAI will now offer public access, as these were previously restricted to NAI members only.

“We are honored to deepen our existing partnership with the USPTO, as the JPA’s goal ties directly to our efforts to promote diversity and inclusion,” said Paul R. Sanberg, President FNAI and NAI. “By opening up access to our resources to the public, we are essentially opening new doors to careers in discovery for young inventors around the world.”

An additional key element of the APP includes market analysis to assess the language used in the education modules and mentoring platform to ensure it is inclusive and will be effective in reaching the disadvantaged audiences.

The USPTO and the NAI have had a close relationship since the NAI was established in 2010. They have collaborated before, including the USPTO’s contributions to the NAI. Technology & Innovation journal as well as the participation of the USPTO leadership in the induction ceremonies for fellows and senior members of the NAI. The next annual meeting of the NAI will take place on June 14-15in Phoenix, Arizona.

About the National Academy of Inventors

the National Academy of Inventors is a member organization comprising U.S. and international universities, as well as government and nonprofit research institutes, with more than 4,000 individual inventor and fellow members spanning more than 250 institutions worldwide. It was founded in 2010 to recognize and encourage inventors holding patents from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), enhance the visibility of academic technology and innovation, encourage the disclosure of intellectual property, educate and mentor innovative students, and translate its members’ inventions for the benefit of society. The NAI works in partnership with the USPTO and publishes the multidisciplinary journal, Technology and innovation. Learn more about www.academyofinventors.org.

Media Contact:
Jody Santoro
Communication Manager
National Academy of Inventors
[email protected]
1-813-974-0782

SOURCE National Academy of Inventors