R&D 100 award entry kick-off season begins
Lab scientists and engineers who want to take their technologies to the next level — by entering and possibly winning an R&D 100 award — can learn more about the awards and the entry process next week.
Often called the "Oscars of Invention," the R&D 100 awards are coordinated through the Lab’s Industrial Partnerships Office. Entries are due to R&D Magazine by March 6, 2009.
The Laboratory’s Industrial Partnerships Office (IPO) is sponsoring a kickoff for the awards on Tuesday, Dec. 9, beginning at 10 a.m. in the Bldg. 361 auditorium.
Lab researchers who are considering putting together an R&D 100 award entry should come to the kickoff to learn more about the awards and the entry process," said Erik Stenehjem, the IPO director. "We’ll answer questions like: ‘Is this effort worth my while?’ ‘What do I have to do to enter the competition?’"
Award winners also will receive a helping hand from the Laboratory.
LLNL technologies with commercial potential that win 2009 R&D 100 awards will be strongly considered for technology maturation funding from IPO, according to Stenehjem.
"We anticipate committing $100,000 to this effort, with a maximum of $50,000 per project, depending on the number of winners. This is money that scientists and engineers can use to further develop prototypes and improve their chances of commercialization," Stenehjem said.
In the IPO director’s view, winning an R&D 100 award is a win-win situation – for the Lab inventors and for the Laboratory.
"This is a good way to secure publicity for the Lab inventors’ technology, to improve the chances of making their technology a commercial success and to help the Laboratory receive recognition for its science and technology," Stenehjem said.
Among the speakers at the Dec. 9 kickoff will be: Stenehjem, who will talk about the benefits of winning an R&D 100 award; Technical Information Department science writer Katie Walter, who will discuss the entry process, schedule and writing tips for entries; and Kique Romero, who won an R&D 100 award earlier this year, will offer advice.
Entries for 2009 can include any new product, process, material, software or system that has shown demonstrable technological significance compared with competing products or processes during 2008.
This year, for the first time in the 46-year history of the R&D 100 awards, electronic submissions will be accepted as entries.
For additional information about entering the R&D 100 awards competition, contact IPO’s Yvonne King at 422-7299.
