R&D Council Announces 45th Annual Edison Patent Award Honorees

The Research & Development Council of New Jersey (R&D Council) has announced the honorees and winners of the 2024 Edison Patent Awards, the state’s highest recognition for inventors and innovation. This year, 14 patents created by 66 inventors and five individual award winners will be honored during the 45th annual Edison Patent Award Ceremony and Reception on November 21, 2024, at Bell Works in Holmdel.

Computer science pioneer Brian Kernighan, Ph.D., New Brunswick Development Corporation President Christopher Paldino, Rowan University Provost Anthony Lowman, Ph.D., New Jersey Commission on Science, Innovation, and Technology Executive Director Judith Sheft, and Hackensack Meridian Health’s Center for Discovery & Innovation researcher Olivier Loudig, Ph.D., will all be honored with individual awards at the ceremony for their extensive contributions to innovation in the Garden State.

2024 Edison Patent Award winners are BASF Environmental Catalyst ad Metal Solutions, Bristol Myers Squibb, Colgate-Palmolive Company, ExxonMobil Technology & Engineering Company, Merck & Co., Nokia Bell Labs, Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, Princeton University, Qualcomm Incorporated, Rowan University, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Siemens Technology, and the U.S. Army. The recognized patents range from a surgical robot designed for femur fractures to technology that improves mobile communications.

Winners were selected by a team of R&D Council researchers who evaluated patents for the significance of the problem, utility/socio-economic value, novelty, and commercial impact. All winning patents must have at least part of the technical/scientific work completed in New Jersey.

“This year’s theme of ‘Jersey Innovates, The World Takes,’ a nod to the iconic Lower Trenton Bridge slogan, celebrates New Jersey’s research community’s global impact. From the inventions of the lightbulb to transistors to antibiotics, New Jersey has been – and continues to be – at the forefront of life-altering innovations,” said Colleen Ruegger, RPh, Ph.D., chair of the R&D Council Board of Directors and executive director, technical research & development at Novartis. “We are thrilled to celebrate these 14 patents, 66 inventors, and five innovation leaders as they continue to make a transformative impact on the world from right here in New Jersey.”

The R&D Council will award its highest honor, the Science & Technology Medal, to computer science pioneer Dr. Brian Kernighan. Dr. Kernighan will receive this honor for his work in developing computer languages and for authorship of the first book on the C programming language, leading C to being the most dominant computer language in the world. Dr. Kernighan is a Princeton professor and retired Bell Laboratories researcher. The Science & Technology Medal is awarded annually to a New Jersey leader for extraordinary performance in bringing an impactful innovation to the marketplace.

The Visionary Award will go to Christopher Paladino, President of the New Brunswick Development Corporation (Devco) and CEO of HELIX NJ. Mr. Paladino is being honored for his work in developing HELIX NJ into a world-class innovation and technology hub. The Visionary Award goes to someone who showcases exceptional and transformational leadership in uniting industry, academia, and the state in pursuit of creating a research-based economy in New Jersey. The Visionary Award was formerly known as the Chairman’s Award in previous years.

The 2024 Educator of the Year Award will be presented to Dr. Anthony Lowman, Rowan University Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs. Dr. Lowman has been instrumental in Rowan University becoming the fastest-growing public research institution in the country. The Educator of the Year Award is presented to an individual for their achievements in the advancement of science and technology education and workforce development across New Jersey.

In recognition of New Jersey’s evolving innovation landscape, the R&D Council is introducing two new individual awards during its 2024 ceremony: the Catalyst Award and the Emerging Tech Award. The Catalyst Award honors an individual who significantly supports the innovation ecosystem within New Jersey and the Emerging Tech Award is presented to a New Jersey individual, team, or organization whose early-stage inventions or innovations have the potential to make a significant impact on the marketplace.

The inaugural Catalyst Award will be presented to Judith Sheft, Executive Director of the New Jersey Commission on Science, Innovation, and Technology, where she strengthens the state’s innovation economy by stimulating academic-industrial collaboration, and encourages and supports entrepreneurs and inventors. Hackensack Meridian Health’s Center for Discovery & Innovation Associate Member Dr. Olivier Loudig will receive the inaugural Emerging Tech Award for his innovative efforts in biomarker discovery in breast cancer.

For information on sponsorship, ads, and tickets, please visit www.rdnj.org/patent-awards. For more information on the award winners, the event, or the R&D Council, please contact R&D Council Executive Director Kim Case at 908.875.7167 or email kcase@rdnj.org. This release can also be found online at www.rdnj.org. 

Story & Photo Credit: New Jersey Business Magazine