Summary
The OSTP and USPTO jointly organised the 2015 Patents for Humanity Awards to honour innovators addressing global challenges. This initiative encourages patent holders to apply their inventions to improve health and living standards. Winners included organisations that developed groundbreaking solutions in medicine, nutrition, sanitation, household energy, and enhanced living standards. Awardees received formal recognition and expedited processing for certain USPTO matters. The programme highlights the vital role of innovation in addressing worldwide humanitarian needs.
On April 20, the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) and the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) hosted the 2015 Patents for Humanity Awards at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. The USPTO had announced the winners on April 13, 2015. Patents for Humanity is the USPTO’s voluntary prize competition for patent owners and licensees. The programme was launched at The White House in February, 2012, to encourage businesses of all kinds to apply their innovations to address global challenges in health and standard of living. Award recipients received public recognition at the ceremony, along with a certificate to expedite processing of certain matters before the USPTO: a patent application, ex parte re-exam, or an ex parte appeal to the Patent Trial and Appeal Board.
Categories
Applications were accepted through October 2014 in five categories of global challenge: Medicine, Nutrition, Sanitation, Household Energy, and Living Standards.
Award Winners
Sanofi received recognition for the anti-malarial drug Artemisinin, derived from the sweet wormwood plant in Asia and Africa. Sanofi took the drug from laboratory experiments to factory production and supplied it on a no-profit no-loss basis in developing countries.
Novartis received recognition for discovering a class of compounds called indolcarboxamides active against drug-sensitive and multidrug-resistant strains of Tuberculosis. Novartis provided their entire Tuberculosis R&D programme, including the compound, to the Tuberculosis (TB) Alliance, a non-profit product development partnership.
American Standard Brands received recognition for partnering with BRAC, UNICEF, Save the Children, and other NGOs to distribute SaTo (Safe Toilet) Technology, created for people worldwide who lack access to safe, basic sanitation.
SunPower Corp received recognition for fitting solar panels on top of standard shipping containers and equipping the interior to power rechargeable lanterns, which were donated to partner organisations for distribution in impoverished communities along with ongoing technical support.
Nutriset received recognition for developing nutritional products made from peanuts and other ingredients to help malnourished children quickly and safely regain weight and digestive function. The product, branded Plumpy’Nut, is distributed in partnership with UNICEF and USAID, with open licensing offered to producers to promote self-sufficiency.
Golden Rice received recognition for inventing the first bio-fortified food — genetically enhanced to provide a source of vitamin A for people subsisting mainly on rice — and for donating it to resource-poor communities in developing countries.
Global Research Innovation & Technology (GRIT) received recognition for creating a wheelchair technology to increase mobility for persons with disabilities. In partnership with the World Bank, Red Cross, and others, the technology has been distributed in India, Brazil, Guatemala, Guinea, Kenya, Haiti, Easter Island, Nepal, and Tanzania.
Disclaimer
This article is for general information and does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult a qualified attorney before acting on any matter discussed here.