National Medal of Technology and Innovation
Technology award given by the US President
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Through President of the United States, Invention and Technology
History
The National Medal of Technology was created in 1980 by the United States Congress under the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act. It was a bipartisan effort to foster technological innovation and the technological competitiveness of the United States in the international arena. The first National Medals of Technology were issued in 1985 by then-U.S. president Ronald Reagan to 12 individuals and one company. Among the first recipients were Steve Jobs and Stephen Wozniak, founders of Apple Computer. The medal has been awarded annually until 2015.
On August 9, 2007, President George Bush signed the America COMPETES (Creating Opportunities to Meaningfully Promote Excellence in Technology, Education, and Science) Act of 2007. The Act amended Section 16 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980, changing the name of the Medal to the "National Medal of Technology and Innovation".
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Award process
Each year the United States Patent and Trademark Office (previously the Technology Administration) under the U.S. Department of Commerce calls for the nomination of new candidates for the National Medal of Technology and Innovation. Candidates are nominated by their peers who have direct, first-hand knowledge of the candidates achievements. Candidates may be individuals, teams of individuals (up to 4), organizations or corporations. Individuals and all members of teams nominated must be U.S. citizens and organizations and corporations must be U.S.-owned (i.e. 50% of their assets or shares must be currently held by U.S. citizens).
All nominations are referred to the National Medal of Technology and Innovation Evaluation Committee, which issues recommendations to the U.S. secretary of commerce. 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. The Secretary of Commerce is then able to advise the President of the United States as to which candidates ought to receive the National Medal of Technology and Innovation. The new National Medal of Technology and Innovation laureates are then announced by the U.S. president once the final selections have been made.
Laureates
As of 2005, there have been more than 135 people and 12 companies recognized. Summarized here is a list of notable laureates and a summary of their accomplishments.