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  • More Room to Innovate: The Lemelson Foundation’s New Portland Offices Unlock a New Era of Innovation

    More Room to Innovate: The Lemelson Foundation’s New Portland Offices Unlock a New Era of Innovation

    The Lemelson Foundation today announced its relocation to a new office space at 2035 NW Front Avenue, Suite 501, Portland, OR 97209, in Portland’s Pearl District. The move reflects the Foundation’s growth and commitment to fostering groundbreaking invention, innovation, and entrepreneurship in Oregon, across the U.S., and worldwide. The environmentally-friendly and human-centered space represents a…

  • 2022 Inventors’ Day Roundup: Faces of Invention

    2022 Inventors’ Day Roundup: Faces of Invention

    As we confront complex issues like climate change, sustainable energy, and equitable access to food and healthcare, one throughline is constant: progress and innovation are inextricably linked. In 1992, prolific inventor Jerry Lemelson and his wife Dolly founded The Lemelson Foundation to support  invention that improves lives and strengthens economies. Since then, the Foundation has…

  • Seven Lessons from a First-time Inventor-Entrepreneur

    Seven Lessons from a First-time Inventor-Entrepreneur

    Tricia Compas-Markman’s journey from engineering to founding a startup for safe drinking water brings valuable takeaways for innovators. I believe that invention can help solve some of our most pressing challenges and improve living conditions for communities across the globe. In particular, disaster relief is an area where innovation can save lives, especially as climate…

  • The Lemelson Foundation Invests in VertueLab’s Climate Impact Fund to Catalyze Invention and Deep-Tech Entrepreneurship in the Pacific Northwest

    The Lemelson Foundation Invests in VertueLab’s Climate Impact Fund to Catalyze Invention and Deep-Tech Entrepreneurship in the Pacific Northwest

    The Lemelson Foundation has invested $500,000 in VertueLab’s Climate Fund I, which seeks to deploy $5 million in catalytic investments to early-stage, technology start-up companies poised to reduce greenhouse gases at scale. The Impact Fund expects to support 15-20 companies primarily located in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Alaska or British Columbia. The support for VertueLab represents…

  • Unlocking the Potential of Hardware-Based Invention to Solve Global Development Challenges

    Unlocking the Potential of Hardware-Based Invention to Solve Global Development Challenges

    A leader in social enterprise provides advice on how to create a supportive ecosystem of mentorship and funding for game-changing innovation As the international development community looks at the decade ahead, unlocking innovation across the globe will be crucial to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), from health to agriculture to the environment. The pandemic…

  • World Food Day: The Future of Agriculture and Farmer Livelihoods

    World Food Day: The Future of Agriculture and Farmer Livelihoods

    By Thomas Caffrey Osvald, Executive, Small Foundation and Maggie Flanagan, Program Officer, The Lemelson Foundation Local invention and innovation-driven enterprises are key to solving global food challenges.On this year’s World Food Day, the COVID crisis continues to have a significant impact on the agriculture sector and food supply chains around the world. Nowhere is the…

  • World Food Day: The Future of Agriculture and Farmer Livelihoods Depends on Local and Innovation-Driven Enterprises

    World Food Day: The Future of Agriculture and Farmer Livelihoods Depends on Local and Innovation-Driven Enterprises

    On this year’s World Food Day, the COVID crisis continues to have a significant impact on the agriculture sector and food supply chains around the world. Nowhere is the crisis more acute than in low-income countries where the pandemic has had “profound implications for the food security, nutrition and food systems,” according to a report released lastMore

  • Carol Dahl, Executive Director for The Lemelson Foundation, to step down, Senior Director of Strategy Rob Schneider Appointed to Role

    Carol Dahl, Executive Director for The Lemelson Foundation, to step down, Senior Director of Strategy Rob Schneider Appointed to Role

    The Executive Director for The Lemelson Foundation, Dr. Carol Dahl, is stepping down after more than 10 years.  The Foundation’s Board of Directors has appointed Rob Schneider, currently serving as Senior Director of Strategy, as the new Executive Director.  Schneider, who joined the foundation in 2018, will assume the new role as of October 16,…

  • 2021 ASME IShow USA Winners Announced

    2021 ASME IShow USA Winners Announced

    The international accelerator of hardware-led social innovation has supported and funded more than 160 startups across the world. The ASME Innovation Showcase (ISHOW) USA announced the winners for its hardware-based invention competition: Conservation X Labs, Project Prana, and JK Engineering, part of SelfChill cooperation. Their innovations address issues ranging from wildlifeMore

  • Fostering a more resilient and equitable innovation economy requires the cultivation of home-grown talent

    Fostering a more resilient and equitable innovation economy requires the cultivation of home-grown talent

    Oregon is preparing the next generation of inventors and entrepreneurs to change their communities — and the world. As the U.S. emerges this summer from the grip of the pandemic, much of the country is fully reopening for business almost as rapidly as it closed. Oregon is now reopening as well — stores and restaurants…

  • ASME ISHOW Kenya Announces 2021 Winners

    ASME ISHOW Kenya Announces 2021 Winners

    The international accelerator of hardware-led social innovation has supported and funded over 160 startups across the world. The ASME Innovation Showcase (ISHOW) Kenya announced its 2021 winners: MeDevice Kenya, Tech Era and Aqualoo Technologies. The three prototypes — Aqualoo Technologies’ cement generator, MeDevice Kenya’s medical ventilator and Tech Era’s water distributionMore

  • Building Back for a Healthy Planet

    Building Back for a Healthy Planet

    Engineers are crucial to restoring our ecosystems and building a sustainable future.

  • ASME ISHOW India Announces 2021 Winners

    ASME ISHOW India Announces 2021 Winners

    The international accelerator of hardware-led social innovation has supported and funded over 160 startups across the world.  The ASME Innovation Showcase (ISHOW) India announced its 2021 winners: Offgrid Energy Labs, PadCare Labs, and Life and Limb (P) Ltd. All three prototypes – Offgrid Energy Labs’ efficient battery technology, PadCare Labs’ menstrual hygiene management system, and…