Resources for HBCU Students and faculty
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USPTO Journeys of Innovation - Found On Baker’s List
In 1894, U.S. Representative George Washington Murray read a list of African American patent holders into the Congressional Record. Murray himself was on the list, which was compiled by patent examiner and civil rights activist Henry Baker. Their lives, connected by the list, tell a story of public service, activism through invention, and how innovative minds can build a better and more just world.
USPTO Journeys of Innovation - Perserverance and Prototypes (An interview w/ Lonnie Johnson)
When his heat-pump prototype shot a stream of water across the room, Lonnie Johnson realized the technology could create a super-powered water gun. Getting the toy to market, however, would take years.
VentureWell’s Innovation This Week
Every Thursday, we share a quick digest of stories and resources related to the science and technology innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem.
VentureWell Post-Graduation Tips for Early-Stage Innovators
Do you know entrepreneurs who recently graduated? VentureWell Program Officer Sarah Wharmby says they have a lot of options for what comes next: an advanced degree, full-time work, or becoming a founder. She breaks down each opportunity to help guide recent grads through this time of transition, and points them in the direction that works best for the growth of their venture.
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Measuring Diversity in the BIOTECH INDUSTRY: Building an Inclusive Workforce
BIO is excited to launch our first annual report to share data, best practices and next steps on diversity and inclusion (D&I) with our member companies. BIO is committed to providing practical tools to help the industry assemble boards and leadership teams as diverse as the customers and patients it serves. Our overarching objective is to advance an even more globally competitive biotech industry.
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A clear takeaway from the projected demographic profile of the nation is that the educational outcomes and STEM readiness of students of color will have direct implications on America’s economic growth, national security, and global prosperity.
ITIF Demographics of Innovation in the United States (2016)
The demographics of U.S. innovation are different from the demographics of the country as a whole, and also from the demographics of college-educated Americans—even those with Ph.Ds. in science or engineering.
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A website that provides podcasts, lessons and webinars regarding IP and specifically patents. There is a wide array of information that can be gleamed from the site. Main contributors are John White and Gene Quinn Jr who both have extensive experience in patent prosecution and examination. Some webinars and programs do require the purchase of a ticket and cost can vary.
Includes a 3.5-hour course regarding the history of patents and the patent prosecution process. It is quick and divided in to six-minute chunks. This course is free and has a completion certificate available.
This website offers a free course aimed at working someone through the process of patent prosecution and application from the agent or attorney perspective. While this course is very useful for someone pursuing a career in patent agency it may not be as useful to an inventor unless they are applying independently. However, the resources provided by Kilpatrick to complete the tasks of this course could be helpful to inventors and agents.
This website provides multiple in-depth session about the Patent Office Exam and the patent application and patent prosecution processes. There are even some broken down in to patenting for specific areas such as biotechnology. These sessions can be very expensive ($2000+) and can have upwards of 50+ hours of content.
North Carolina A&T State University Office of IP Development and Commercialization FAQ’s
This website provides answers to frequently asked questions about technology development and commercialization.
University of Michigan Inventors Guide to Technology Transfer
This website provides a transfer technology guide for inventors.
Financial Plan Projections Template for Startups
Click here for a free excel spreadsheet template for startup financial plan projections.
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United States Patent and Trademark Office
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Science Foundation
Provides training for entrepreneurs, inventors and scientists. The training takes place over several weeks. There are also several webinars available.
National Institutes of Health
United States Department of Commerce
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USPTO 2023 Black Innovation and Entrepreneurship Program (links and descriptions below)
Fireside Conversation with Dr. Leshell Hatley
A fireside conversation with Dr. Leshell Hatley, Director of STEM programs at the American Association of University Women (AAUW) an Executive Director of Uplift, Inc., interviewed by USPTO Deputy Director Derrick Brent. Hear from Dr. Hatley as she charter a path forward in the STEM research field.
Mentorship: Inspiring the Next Generation
Candid conversation with Jim West and Dr. Victor Lawrence, National Inventors Hall of Fame (NIHF) inductees. Interviewed by Morgan State University undergraduate students Amenta Bell-Richardson and Isaiah Dornelus.
A documentary short created in partnership with the National Inventor’s Hall of Fame (NIHF) that focuses on Richard F. America, one of the youngest Black inventors on “Baker's list,” the first repository of African American patent holders compiled by lawyer, assistant patent examiner, and civil rights activist Henry E. Baker (1857 – 1928). The documentary features an interview with America’s son, the only known living child of an inventor on Baker’s list.
Education: An Engine of Opportunities
Academic leaders share the importance of education and the intellectual property programs offered at their institutions.
HBCUs: Regional Centers of Excellence
Representatives from prominent HBCU regional centers discuss the centers’ programs and efforts to increase access to financial services and capital for Black and minority entrepreneurs and their small businesses.
Hear from successful business owners as they discuss the importance of protecting and building your brand.
Lakisha Greenwade, Founder and CEO, Wearable Tech Ventures
John Hope Bryant, Founder, Chairman, and CEO, Operation HOPE
Dr. Tope Mitchell, CEO and Co-Founder, Reflekt Me
Judith Norman, Founder and Executive Producer, StartHER TV
IP innovation in the Hair Care Industry
Dr Tye Caldwell and Courtney Caldwell, co-founders of ShearShare, the first on demand salon and barbershop space rental app, share how they shaped their journey of innovation by changing the standards of haircare. Interviewed by Angela Wilson, Trademark Group Director, USPTO.
Access to capital: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR), America's Seed Fund
Tiffany House, SBIR Program Commercialization Analyst, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), walks through the SBIR application process and talks about the available funding to start your business.
President and Founder of Johnson Research & Development Co., Inc.; National Inventors Hall of Fame (NIHF) Inductee: hear about Lonnie Johnson’s invention journey.