Jerome Lemelson, or “Jerry” to those who knew him, realized that the only way the U.S.would remain a world leader in economic growth and technology was to place a strong emphasis on invention and innovation. At that point, his visionary mind set to work to create a national program.

In the 1990’s, in collaboration with business partner and attorney Gerald Hosier, Jerry began to globally license his inventions. With the resulting financial success, Jerry and his family began discussing ideas for a new foundation to help independent inventors, promote innovation and help develop the US economy.

In 1993 Jerry's two sons, Rob and Eric, encouraged him to realize his lifelong dream to support American inventors by formally creating the Lemelson Foundation.

The Lemelson Foundation became active in 1994 with the initiation of two U.S. programs. Towards the goal of helping budding college inventors to build businesses based on their inventions, the Foundation began an innovative program at Hampshire College in Massachusetts.

The Foundation also founded the National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators Alliance (NCIIA) in 1995 to support student invention teams, based on the success of the World War II Inventors Council.

Jerry believed that inventors should be seen as role models to American society, and that a national prize program, modelled on the Nobel prize, could help promote this idea. This emerged as the Lemelson-MIT Prize Program. In 1995, the first $500,000 prize was awarded to William Bolander, who developed Saturn’s traction control system.

In 1995, Jerry and Dolly cut the ribbon to open the Lemelson Center for the study of invention and innovation in American life at the National Museum of American history at the Smithsonian Institution. The Center has reached millions with its exhibitions, symposia and educational curricula.

With an eye on the mission of providing an equal playing field for everyone, the Foundation began funding programs oriented towards minority children, such as A-MAN (African-American Male Achievers Network).

Soon after Jerry Lemelson died in 1997, Eric and Rob realised that the incredible power of invention and innovation could help solve problems of poverty, hunger, environmental degredation and disease in the developing world. They helped establish programs to meet basic human needs and create sustainable livelihoods in developing countries.

In 2002, Julia Novy-Hildesley joined the Foundation as its first Executive Director to work with the Board on launching developing country programs and advancing its work in the U.S.

A strategy symposium in early 2003 brought together 25 leaders in invention, science, technology, policy and sustainable development from a dozen countries to help the Foundation structure its international efforts for maximum impact.

During a 2003 talk at the Kennedy Center, Rob introduced the Foundation’s plans to help develop and deliver technologies that would address the United Nations’ WEHAB
(Water, Energy, Health, Agriculture, and Biodiversity) priority areas.

The Foundation launched a portfolio of technology dissemination projects to support organizations like KickStart, an NGO in East Africa that designs income-boosting agricultural technologies for farmers, and SELCO-India, a for-profit company that creates low-cost, clean energy solutions for poor households.

In 2004, the Foundation began teaming with leading institutions and organizations in developing countries to create RAMPs – Recognition and Mentoring Programs. Today, RAMPs in India, Indonesia, and Peru are providing student and grassroots inventors with the resources needed to bring their ideas to reality.

In 2007, the Foundation partnered with social entrepreneurship pioneer Ashoka to build and support a cohort of 100 invention-led changemakers, such as Jose Roberto de Fonseca e Silva, in order to bring global recognition to the importance of their efforts through the lens of invention and entrepreneurship.

Also in 2007, the Foundation assessed the results of its first dozen years of work in the U.S. and convened education, technology, policy, engineering and science experts, such as Ashok Gadgil to help shape its strategy for the next decade.

As part of its new U.S. strategy, the Foundation strives to engage more youth – particularly girls and underserved minorities - in invention and innovation; it began sponsoring Design Squad in 2007, a PBS reality television show in which teens tackle fun engineering challenges.

Staring in 2008, the Foundation began supporting invention-led activities to address the global climate crisis, with funding focused on engaging key stakeholders to develop and deliver transformative technologies.

Along with 7 major foundations, including the Gates and Rockefeller Foundations, the Lemelson Foundation launched the Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs (ANDE) in early 2009. Through finance and business assistance, ANDE members catalyze small business growth in the developing world to fill the “missing middle” between micro-finance and commercial lending.

With an emphasis on sustainable development and social entrepreneurship, the Lemelson Foundation forges new paths into the future through a powerful network of partners while continuing to realize the goals and dreams of Jerry Lemelson.