The Lemelson Foundation

Based in Portland, Oregon, The Lemelson Foundation uses the power of invention to improve lives. Inspired by the belief that invention can solve many of the biggest economic and social challenges of the time, the Foundation helps the next generation of inventors and invention-based businesses to flourish. The Lemelson Foundation was established in the early 1990s by prolific inventor Jerome Lemelson and his wife Dorothy. To date the Foundation has made grants totaling more than $190 million in support of its mission. Programs Within the geographies where they work, the US and developing countries, they have a common path to impact. They work with partners in establishing and supporting programs that inspire youth to become inventors, stimulate and provide invention and entrepreneurship education, and support the launch, earliest incubation and mentoring of invention-based enterprises. US Programs They work within the US through programs and partnerships that showcase the power of invention and invention-based businesses to improve the economy. They inspire youth to solve problems through invention, provide young inventors with the knowledge and tools to invent, and help college students with the launch of invention-based enterprises and their earliest incubation. US Inspiration The Foundation works to raise the public profile and image of inventors and invention in order to inspire the next generation to become inventors. They do this through prizes; supporting public immersion and hands-on experiential engagement; creating evidence, stories and supporting studies; supporting related convenings to establish communities of practice; enabling thought leadership on behalf of invention; strategically engaging media; and building enduring organizations that promote invention. US Education They support programs to build a pipeline of future inventors by equipping them with the essential skills to invent and develop self-sustaining, invention-based enterprises. They do this through supporting courses and programs for invention education; expanding the number of underserved students experiencing invention education; providing professional development for invention education to educators; promoting a community of practice in invention education; supporting convenings to promote and address issues related to invention education; demonstrating thought leadership; and building enduring organizations that support invention education. US Incubation Through a partnership with a network in colleges throughout the US, they support the launch and early incubation of student-led invention-based enterprises and the iterative refinement of customer need, technological invention, and a self-sustaining business proposition. They work to build investment-ready, self-sustaining, invention-based enterprises. They do this through providing emerging invention-based businesses and associated inventor/entrepreneurs access to quality resources and training; providing access to mentoring; access to engineering spaces; routes to customer feedback and better market information; access to senior talent; and sources of seed funding; promoting a community of practice; and continuing to serve as thought leaders in the field of incubation of invention-based enterprise; as well as building enduring organizations that support emerging invention-based business and associated inventor/entrepreneurs. Developing Country Programs In developing countries, the Foundation works with partner organizations to support inventors and entrepreneurs building invention-based businesses that address the problems of the poorest populations through the creation of products that a) address basic human needs, like access to food or water, or b) create jobs or increase incomes of the poor. Developing Country Inspiration The Foundation works to raise the public profile and image of inventors and invention in order to inspire people in developing countries to become inventors. They do this through prizes; supporting public immersion and hands-on experiential engagement; creating evidence, stories and supporting studies; supporting related convenings to establish communities of practice; enabling thought leadership on behalf of invention; strategically engaging media; and building enduring organizations that promote invention. Developing Country Education They support programs to build a pipeline of future inventors by equipping them with the essential skills to invent and develop self-sustaining, invention-based enterprises. They do this through supporting courses and programs for invention education; expanding the number of underserved students experiencing invention education; providing professional development for invention education to educators; promoting a community of practice in invention education; supporting convenings to promote and address issues related to invention education; demonstrating thought leadership; and building enduring organizations that support invention education. Developing Country Incubation The Foundation supports the launch of early enterprises in order to build investment-ready, self-sustaining, invention-based enterprises. They do this through providing emerging invention-based businesses and associated inventor/entrepreneurs access to quality resources and training; providing access to mentoring; access to engineering spaces; routes to customer feedback and better market information; access to senior talent; and sources of seed funding; promoting a community of practice; and continuing to serve as thought leaders in the field of incubation of invention-based enterprise; as well as building enduring organizations that support emerging invention-based business and associated inventor/entrepreneurs.