Posts Tagged: "humanitarian technologies"

Mark Cuban-backed LuminAID receives first U.S. patent, completes $2 million in sales through 2015

The company has been earning a bit of acclaim from media publications for its technology. Tech news outlet CNET has reported that, when deflated, 50 LuminAID solar-powered lights can ship in the same amount of space as eight flashlights. Popular Science also gave the product a glowing review as a useful accessory for campers or hikers. The product hasn’t just attracted media attention, however. It also has wooed the financial backing of Mark Cuban, one of the regular business investors featured on hit reality TV show Shark Tank. Cuban, a billionaire tech investor and owner of the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks, offered to invest in LuminAID’s business on an episode of Shark Tank airing in February 2015.

USPTO Announces Patents For Humanity Winners

The Patents for Humanity Award is the top award for applicant’s best representing the Patents for Humanity principles. Award recipients will receive public recognition at an award ceremony sponsored by the USPTO. They will also receive a certificate to accelerate certain matters before the USPTO: a patent application, ex parte reexam, or an ex parte appeal to the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. Inter partes matters and other post-grant proceedings may not be accelerated at this time. Honorable mentions will receive accelerated examination of one patent application and a featured write-up on the USPTO website. A portion of honorable mentions may be awarded for the best up and coming technologies.

On Patents Aiding Humanity

GUEST CONTRIBUTION BY USPTO DIRECTOR DAVID KAPPOS… President Obama’s Global Development Policy — the first by a U.S. Administration — recognizes that raising the living standards of humanity is not just a moral imperative for the United States; it is vital for our economic and national security. Patents for Humanity advances this policy by leveraging the power of invention to improve lives. I invite all patent holders to consider how your inventions could further the aims of the President’s Global Development Policy. If you are actively addressing humanitarian needs with your patents, please apply to our Patents for Humanity prize competition by August 31st, 2012.

Patents for Humanity Announced at White House Event

I had the honor of being invited to the White House today for the Innovation for Global Development Event, which was held in support of the President’s commitment to using harness the power of innovation to solve long-standing global development challenges. As a part of this event, David Kappos, Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and the Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office, launched a pilot program dubbed Patents for Humanity, which is a voluntary prize competition for patent owners and licensees. The pilot program seeks to encourage businesses of all kinds to apply their patented technology to addressing the world’s humanitarian challenges.

BIO Opens Nominations For 2011 Biotech Humanitarian Award

The Humanitarian Award honors work that aims to reduce human suffering significantly or enhance the human experience in a way that has a clear and direct benefit to society. Additional consideration will be given to approaches that are at a turning point and may potentially have immeasurable influence. The Award and a prize of $10,000 will be presented at the 2011 BIO International Convention, in Washington, DC on June 27-30, 2011.