Startup of the Year

Award Description

This award recognizes a startup that has achieved remarkable growth in terms of revenue, market share, user base or outstanding technological advancements or applications. The startup supports the Office of the President’s strategy goal of developing and transferring new knowledge to address societal needs. This startup has demonstrated a strong commitment to transformational research, leadership and mentoring in the university community. The Startup of the Year actively promotes the commercialization of university intellectual property through its efforts to advance the U’s culture of innovation and entrepreneurship.

Qualifications

Nominees for Startup of the Year should meet the following qualifications:

• Has made a notable achievement in growth in terms of revenue, market share, user base or outstanding technological advancements or applications.
• Supports the Office of the President’s strategy goal of developing and transferring new knowledge to address societal needs.
• Embodies the University’s Core Value of research and teaching excellence—advancing cutting-edge translational research that promotes innovation and entrepreneurship.
• Encourages meaningful connections in the university community and supports university research efforts through mentorship and collaboration.

Founder of the Year

Award Description

Awarding an individual founder who has shown exceptional leadership, vision and impact on their startup. Supports the Office of the President’s strategy goal of developing and transferring new knowledge to address societal needs. The Founder of the Year is an established university researcher who has made a notable achievement in startup innovation that benefits society and creates economic impact in the past year. This individual has demonstrated a strong commitment to transformational research, leadership and mentoring in the university community. The Innovator of the Year actively promotes the commercialization of university intellectual property through their efforts to advance the U’s culture of innovation and entrepreneurship.

Qualifications

Nominees for Founder of the Year should meet the following qualifications:

• Has made a notable achievement in developing a startup in the past year.
• Supports the Office of the President’s strategy goal of developing and transferring new knowledge to address societal needs.
• Embodies the University’s Core Value of research and teaching excellence—advancing cutting-edge translational research that promotes innovation & entrepreneurship.
• Encourages meaningful connections in the university community and supports university research efforts through mentorship and collaboration.

Global Impact Award

Award Description

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. The focus of this award is to recognize the powerful impact technology transfer can have, no matter how simple or complex the technology transfer effort. This individual has demonstrated contributions towards enhancing the University of Utah's global engagement through commercializing research, and fostering a culturally diverse, welcoming environment that is conducive to comprehensive campus internationalization.

Qualifications

Nominees for the Global Impact Award should meet the following qualifications:

• A history of successfully developing and commercializing innovative technologies, research tools, processes, or services that have made a tangible and lasting impact on the populace or marketplace at a global scale. These efforts should showcase the potential of technology transfer to address real-world challenges and improve lives across borders.
• Excellence in mentorship to others involved in innovation and entrepreneurship activities across international boundaries. This includes fostering the growth of aspiring entrepreneurs, researchers, and innovators, thereby contributing to the development of a vibrant ecosystem of talent and ideas
• Demonstrates consistent efforts to advance a culture of international innovation & entrepreneurship at the U. This involves creating opportunities for cross-cultural collaboration and facilitating the exchange of ideas and knowledge globally.
• A history of leadership in one’s department, field of expertise, and the university research community. This leadership may be evidenced through initiatives to foster interdisciplinary collaboration, advocacy for research funding and resources, and engagement in strategic planning to enhance the university's research impact and global engagement.

Innovator of the Year

Award Description

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. This individual has demonstrated a strong commitment to transformational research, leadership, and mentoring in the university community. The Innovator of the Year actively promotes the commercialization of university intellectual property through their efforts to advance the U’s culture of innovation and entrepreneurship.

Qualifications

Nominees for Innovator of the Year should meet the following qualifications:

• Has made a notable achievement in developing an invention in the past year.
• Supports the Office of the President’s strategy goal of developing and transferring new knowledge to address societal needs.
• Embodies the University’s Core Value of research and teaching excellence—advancing cutting-edge translational research that promotes innovation & entrepreneurship.
• Encourages meaningful connections in the university community and supports university research efforts through mentorship and collaboration.

Investigator on the Rise

Award Description

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. The Investigator on the Rise embodies the university’s commitment to excellence in research and shows great capability for future achievements in invention development. The Investigator on the Rise actively promotes the commercialization of university intellectual property through their efforts.

Qualifications

Nominees for Investigator on the Rise should meet the following qualifications:

• Actively pursuing translational research to meet societal needs.
• Has made a notable first achievement as a new inventor and/or entrepreneur.
• Goes beyond expectations and duties and shows leadership amongst peers & colleagues.
• Collaborates with research community, industry experts, and local community to share knowledge and shape research efforts.
• Demonstrates consistent efforts to advance a culture of innovation & entrepreneurship at the U.

Lifetime Achievement Award

Award Description

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.

Qualifications

Nominees for the Lifetime Achievement Award should meet the following qualifications:

• A history of successfully developing and commercializing innovative technologies, research tools, processes, or services.
• Excellence in mentorship to others involved in innovation and entrepreneurship activities.
• Demonstrates consistent efforts to advance a culture of innovation & entrepreneurship at the U.
• A history of leadership in one’s department, field of expertise, and the university research community.

Excellence in Innovation Graduate Student Award

Award Description

The Excellence in Innovation Graduate Student Award recognizes a student who has shown excellence in academics and efforts to improve society through translational research and/or invention development. This graduate student distinguishes themselves from peers through their dedication, entrepreneurial spirit, and curiosity.

Qualifications

Nominees for the Excellence in Innovation Graduate Student Award should meet the following qualifications:

• Demonstrated effort towards translational research and invention development.
• Excellent academic standing.
• High potential for future achievement through continued research.
• Demonstrates consistent efforts to advance a culture of innovation & entrepreneurship at the U.

Breakthrough of the Year

Award Description

The Breakthrough of the Year award recognizes an invention or discovery that has created a meaningful difference in society. Recipient teams or individuals have successfully developed and commercialized an invention that improves lives in real-world use and creates economic impact.

Qualifications

Nominees for the Innovation Impact Award should meet the following qualifications:

• Supports the Office of the President’s strategy goal of developing and transferring new knowledge to address societal needs.
• Ability to show the measured impact of a novel invention.
• Has shown commitment to translational research efforts with a strong potential for significant societal benefit.
• Engagement and collaboration with industry and community to shape research and innovation efforts and maximize impact.
• Demonstrates consistent efforts to advance a culture of innovation & entrepreneurship at the U.

Excellence in Innovation Undergraduate Student Award

Award Description

The Excellence in Innovation Undergraduate Student Award recognizes a student who has shown excellence in academics and efforts to improve society through translational research and/or invention development. This student distinguishes themselves from peers through their dedication, entrepreneurial spirit, and curiosity.

Qualifications

Nominees for the Excellence in Innovation Undergraduate Student Award should meet the following qualifications:

• Demonstrated effort towards translational research and invention development.
• Excellent academic standing.
• High potential for future achievement through continued research and study.
• Demonstrates consistent efforts to advance a culture of innovation & entrepreneurship at the U.