We live in a time of great change and breathtaking progress.
The last century alone has borne witness to more innovation than in any previous age of
human history.
But serious challenges remain.
In 2018: 844 million people had no access to drinking
water.¬¬ 1.1 billion lived without electricity.
2.3 billion lived without access to toilets or latrines.
And at least half of the world’s 7.3 billion people still lacked essential health services.
For many of us, these problems are difficult to imagine, much less solve.
But technology can help.
Which is why in 2013 the USPTO started Patents for Humanity, to recognize and reward groundbreaking
innovations that address the world’s most pressing humanitarian problems, in:
Household energy, living standards, medicine, nutrition, and sanitation.
Past award winners include: Nokero, for a low-cost solar light for the
developing world.
Golden Rice, for creating vitamin-A enriched rice that prevents blindness and death.
Global Good Fund at Intellectual Ventures, for a cooler that can keep vaccines cold for
over 30 days without electricity.
Winners receive a certificate for acceleration of select USPTO proceedings that can help
move their innovations to market.
And, they are honored at an award ceremony in Washington, D.C., attended by USPTO and
government leaders.
You could be one of the next awardees.
Your next patented innovation could do more than push technology forward and create jobs.
It could save lives.