National Medal of Technology and Innovation 2013 Nomination Guidelines

Eligibility

• Nominations for the National Medal of Technology and Innovation can be made for an individual, a team of up to four individuals, a company or a division of a company. 
• Self-nominations are not accepted.
• Individuals or teams of individuals from a national laboratory or government agency are eligible for nomination; however, a national laboratory or government agency as an organization is not eligible for consideration.
• In the case of individuals and teams, U.S. citizenship is a requirement.
• In the case of a for-profit company or non-profit organization, the company/organization must be U.S.-owned, which is defined by the medal program as having more than 50 percent of its shares or assets owned by U.S. citizens.
• Only nominations on behalf of living individuals are eligible for consideration. However, if an individual passes away after their recommendation is sent forward, a posthumous award may be made.
• Members of the National Medal of Technology and Innovation Evaluation Committee cannot receive the medal during the period of their service on the committee or for a period of three years thereafter.
• All nominees selected as finalists through the merit review process will be subject to an FBI security check. Information collected through the security check may be considered in the final selection of winners.

Submission Procedures

• 2013 nominations and letters of recommendation must be submitted by 5 p.m. ET, April 1, 2013.  
• The National Medal of Technology and Innovation nomination form can be downloaded from the USPTO website.
• The National Medal of Technology and Innovation cannot be awarded for the same work that was previously recognized by the National Medal of Science. Nominations for previous winners of the National Medal of Science must clearly differentiate the work that distinguishes this nomination from the work that was the basis for the earlier award.
• The National Medal of Technology and Innovation cannot be awarded to an organization for the same work for which individuals within the organization have already been awarded the medal. Nominations for organizations that have previously won the National Medal of Technology and Innovation must clearly differentiate the work that distinguishes this nomination from the work that was the basis for the earlier award.
• Nomination files should be submitted by email to NMTI@uspto.gov.
• Nomination files should be in a Word document and labeled:  last name, underscore, first name.doc (Doe_John.doc) or team last names separated by underscore (Doe_Jones_Smith.doc) or company/organization.
• The nomination must include at least six letters of recommendation or support from individuals who have first-hand knowledge of the cited achievement(s). It is preferred that the letters of recommendation be included with the electronic nomination file in a Microsoft Word (.doc) or as a PDF file. Please label each letter with last name of nominee, underscore, first name, underscore, the word “rec” and last name of person writing support letter.doc. 

For example: Doe_John_recSmith.doc.

• Contact information for those sending letters of recommendation on the nomination form in Section V should be included in the nomination. A confirmation reply will be sent to those sending recommendation letters.
• Alternatively, letters of recommendation may be sent by electronic mail to NMTI@uspto.gov, fax to 571-273-9821, or overnight delivery to the National Medal of Technology and Innovation, c/o Program Manager, United States Patent and Trademark Office, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313-1450. Letters of recommendation must arrive by 5 p.m. ET, Apr 1, 2013.
• Once submitted, nominations remain active for two years, including the year of nomination and the subsequent nomination year. After that period, nominators must submit a new nomination in order to be considered for selection. In unusual circumstances, the evaluation committee may extend the eligibility period for a specific nomination.
• All material submitted will be retained in the nominee’s file in the National Medal of Technology and Innovation office for committee review.
• Please note that the submission is not complete until a confirmation reply is received by the nominator. In the event of difficulty, please contact (571) 272-9821.

Evaluation Criteria

The president of the United States awards the National Medal of Technology and Innovation to individuals, teams, and companies/divisions of companies deserving of special recognition by way of their outstanding contributions to the economic, environmental, and social well-being of the United States through the development and commercialization of technology products, processes and concepts, and through the development of the nation's technological manpower.

The law establishing the National Medal of Technology and Innovation highlights three areas for which the medal may be awarded:

• contributions to the economic well-being of the United States;
• contributions to the environmental well-being of the United States; and
• contributions to the social well-being of the United States.

Each nomination for the National Medal of Technology and Innovation is evaluated for achievements in these three areas based on one of three tailored sets of criteria:

1.       criteria for individual and team nominations for technology products, processes, and concepts;

2.       criteria for company and division nominations for technology and technological innovation; or

3.       criteria for promotion of technological manpower. Nominations should provide detailed information on the

          nominee’s contributions in terms of the applicable criteria articulated below:

(1)  Nomination for Individual or Team – Technology:  Products, Processes, and Concepts

An individual or team nomination for technology products, processes, and concepts is evaluated for the individual’s or team’s contributions to the improvement of the economic, environmental, and social well-being of the United States, and for the challenges faced and overcome.

Economic contributions considered, but not limited to, include:  importance and breadth of penetration of the technology, process or concept, including the number of industries/sectors benefited and the depth of influence in one or more industries/sectors; revenues; U.S. exports; U.S. job creation/wages; contribution to U.S. economic growth, productivity, and competitiveness; importance of patents, copyrights, and other intellectual property; and business formation.

Environmental contributions considered, but not limited to, include: environmental stewardship: reduction/remediation/prevention of pollution (air, bodies of water, soil, drinking water, noise); conservation; recycling, and waste reduction; global climate change; biodiversity; and sustainable development.

Contributions to social well-being considered, but not limited to, include: U.S. global prestige and leadership; human health; safety and security (personal, homeland, defense); education, training, and enlightenment; communication and social cohesiveness; personal productivity and life management; enhanced human performance; greater personal time and leisure activities; and economic opportunity.

In addition to the contributions to the nation’s well-being, a nomination may be evaluated in terms of the challenges – technological, commercial, competitive, societal, and time – faced and overcome, including, but not limited to: the vision that was created; development and execution of a plan, including degree of vision, persistence, risk-taking, and barriers overcome; evidence extraordinary achievement and/or entrepreneurial, organizational, or managerial skills demonstrated relevant to the achievement; degree of technical challenge; degree of commercialization challenge; and technical novelty.

(2) Nomination for Company or Division of a Company -- Technology/Technological Innovation

A nomination of a company or division of a company for technology or technological achievement is evaluated for the company's or division's contributions to the improvement of the economic, environmental, and social well-being of the United States, and for the challenges faced and overcome.

Economic contributions considered, but not limited to, include: importance and breadth of penetration of the technologies, processes or concepts, including the number of industries/sectors benefited and the depth of influence in one or more industries/sectors; revenues; U.S. exports; U.S. job creation/wages; contribution to U.S. economic growth.

Environmental contributions considered, but not limited to, include: environmental stewardship:  reduction/remediation/prevention of pollution (air, bodies of water, soil, drinking water, noise); conservation, recycling, and waste reduction; global climate change; biodiversity; and sustainable development.

Contributions to social well-being considered, but not limited to, include: U.S. global prestige and leadership; human health; safety and security (personal, homeland, and defense); education, training, and enlightenment; communication and social cohesiveness; personal productivity and life management; enhanced human performance; greater personal time and leisure activities; and economic opportunity.

In addition to the contributions to the nation's well-being, a nomination may be evaluated in terms of the challenges – technical, commercial, competitive, societal, and time – faced and overcome, including, but not limited to: the vision that was created; development and execution of a plan, including degree of vision, persistence, risk-taking, and barriers overcome; and development of an organizational culture and/or structure capable of germinating and nurturing repeated technological achievement and commercial success, including elements such as management leadership, strong and sustained human resources development, technology strategy and technology management linked to corporate strategy, an environment conducive to teamwork and cross-functional communications, customer orientation, and manufacturing flexibility and excellence.

(3) Nomination for Promotion of Technological Manpower

A nomination for contributions to technological manpower is evaluated for the nominee’s contributions to the improvement of the economic and social well-being of the United States, and for the challenges faced and overcome.

Economic contributions considered, but not limited to, include: increasing the supply of U.S. technological manpower in response to market demands; improving the knowledge and effectiveness of U.S. technological manpower; rapid development and scale-up of education and training to meet the technological manpower demands generated by emerging technologies; business formation resulting from development of technological manpower; expanded access to education and training resulting in an increase in the supply and effectiveness of technological manpower; improving market responses to market demands for technological manpower, including better data, information, analysis, public awareness, and communication among stakeholders; and improving the nation’s ability to attract and retain commercial activity in the United States as a result of improving the nation’s technological manpower.

Contributions to social well-being considered, but not limited to, include: increasing diversity of technological workforce, and improvements in U.S. K-12 student performance in science, mathematics, and technology.

In addition to the contributions to the nation’s well-being, a nomination may be evaluated in terms of the challenges faced and overcome, including but not limited to the magnitude of social, economic, institutional, and time challenges in improving the number, knowledge and effectiveness of technological manpower.