The Technology Licensing Office is excited to host the second annual University of Utah Innovation Awards on Monday, Oct. 28. The inaugural event highlighted incredible U researchers working to translate their research into technologies that benefit the public, and this year’s event will continue to build on last year’s success.

Nominations are now open for the following Innovation Awards:

• Startup of the Year: This award recognizes a startup that has achieved remarkable growth in terms of revenue, market share, user base or outstanding technological advancements or applications.
• Founder of the Year: The Founder of the Year award recognizes an individual founder who has shown exceptional leadership, vision and impact on their startup.
• Excellence in Innovation Undergraduate Student Award: The Excellence in Innovation Undergraduate Student Award recognizes an undergraduate student who has shown excellence in academics and efforts to improve society through translational research and/or invention development.
• Excellence in Innovation Graduate Student Award: The Excellence in Innovation Graduate Student Award recognizes a graduate student who has shown excellence in academics and efforts to improve society through translational research and/or invention development.
• Breakthrough of the Year: The Breakthrough of the Year award recognizes an invention or discovery that has created a meaningful difference in society.
• Lifetime Achievement Award: The Lifetime Achievement Award honors an individual that has created a deep and widespread impact through innovation. Throughout their career, this individual has lent their knowledge, skill, and time to fill unmet needs in society with transformative solutions.
• Investigator on the Rise: This award recognizes an early-career faculty member who has made an outstanding achievement that impacts the innovation world through a new patent, license, or startup.
• Innovator of the Year: The Innovator of the Year is an established university researcher who has made a notable achievement in innovation that benefits society and creates economic impact in the past year.
• Global Impact Award: The Global Impact award recognizes an established university researcher whose technology transfer efforts have made a tangible and lasting impact on the populace or marketplace ranging from a local to global scale.