University Innovators From Across The Country Converge At Summit

In the United States, the federal government invests $148 billion annually in basic research, more than any other country. According to Phil Weilerstein, Executive Director of NCIIA, "While world-changing successes have resulted from this investment, an even greater opportunity exists to fully capitalize on this investment for the benefit of society. Additional pathways are needed to launch more innovators and generate more innovations with clearly identified applications and markets and effective approaches. Supporting the generation of robust innovation ecosystems around the university research enterprise is critical to generating career opportunities for emerging STEM graduate students, commercialization returns for universities and economic growth for the U.S. economy."

About NCIIAThe NCIIA catalyzes positive social and environmental impact through invention and technological innovation by providing funding, training and mentoring for university faculty and student innovators. With support from The Lemelson Foundation, the National Science Foundation and a membership of nearly 200 colleges and universities from all over the United States, the NCIIA engages approximately 5,000 student entrepreneurs each year, leveraging their campuses as working laboratories for invention and innovation and incubators for businesses, and ultimately helping them to bring their ideas to market. For more information, please visit http://www.nciia.org.

About the NSFThe National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency that supports fundamental research and education across all fields of science and engineering. In fiscal year (FY) 2012, its budget is $7.0 billion. NSF funds reach all 50 states through grants to nearly 2,000 colleges, universities and other institutions. Each year, NSF receives over 50,000 competitive requests for funding, and makes about 11,000 new funding awards. NSF also awards nearly $420 million in professional and service contracts yearly. http://www.nsf.gov. 

About The Lemelson FoundationThe Lemelson Foundation works to inspire and enable the next generation of inventors and invention-based enterprises in order to build a stronger US economy and create social and economic change for the poor in developing countries. For more information, visit http://lemelson.org.

Media Contact Information: Holly MottNCIIA [e-mail]413-210-7067

SOURCE National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators Alliance (NCIIA)

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