National Medal of Technology and Innovation 2009 Nomination Guidelines

National Medal of Technology and Innovation
2009 Nomination Guidelines
Introduction
The National Medal of Technology and Innovation (formerly known as the National Medal of Technology) is the highest
honor awarded by the President of the United States to America’s leading innovators. Established by statute in 1980, the
Medal of Technology and Innovation was first awarded in 1985. The Medal is given to individuals, teams, and/or
companies/divisions for their outstanding contributions to the Nation’s economic, environmental and social well-being
through the development and commercialization of technology products, processes and concepts; technological innovation;
and development of the Nation’s technological manpower.
The purpose of the National Medal of Technology and Innovation is to recognize those who have made lasting contributions
to America's competitiveness, standard of living, and quality of life through technological innovation, and to recognize those
who have made substantial contributions to strengthening the Nation’s technological workforce. By highlighting the national
importance of technological innovation, the Medal also seeks to inspire future generations of Americans to prepare for and
pursue technical careers to keep America at the forefront of global technology and economic leadership.
Eligibility
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Nominations for the National Medal of Technology and Innovation can be made for an individual, a team of up to
four individuals, a company or a division of a company.
Individuals or teams of individuals from a national laboratory or government agency are eligible for nomination;
however, a national laboratory or government agency as an organization is not eligible for consideration.
In the case of individuals and teams, U.S. citizenship is a requirement.
In the case of a for-profit company or non-profit organization, the company/organization must be U.S.-owned,
which is defined by the Medal program as having more than 50 percent of its shares or assets owned by U.S.
citizens.
Only nominations on behalf of living individuals are eligible for consideration. However, if an individual passes
away after their recommendation is sent forward, a posthumous award may be made.
Members of the National Medal of Technology and Innovation Evaluation Committee cannot receive the Medal
during the period of their service on the committee or for a period of three years thereafter.
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.

Submission Procedures
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2009 Nominations and letters of recommendation must be submitted by close of business (5:00 p.m. EST),
May 29, 2009.
The 2009 National Medal of Technology and Innovation Form can be downloaded at:
http://www.USPTO.gov/NMTI
The National Medal of Technology and Innovation cannot be awarded for the same work that was previously
recognized by the National Medal of Science. Nominations for previous winners of the National Medal of Science
must clearly differentiate the work that distinguishes this nomination from the work that was the basis for the earlier
award.
The National Medal of Technology and Innovation cannot be awarded to an organization for the same work for
which individuals within the organization have already been awarded the Medal. Nominations for organizations that
have previously won the National Medal of Technology and Innovation must clearly differentiate the work that
distinguishes this nomination from the work that was the basis for the earlier award.
Nomination files should be submitted by electronic mail to: [email protected].
Nomination files should be in Word document and labeled: last name, underscore, first name.doc (Doe_John.doc)
or team last names separated by underscore (Doe_Jones_Smith.doc) or company/organization.
The nomination must include at least six letters of recommendation or support from individuals who have first-hand
knowledge of the cited achievement(s). It is preferred that the letters of recommendation be included with the

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electronic nomination file in a Microsoft Word (.doc) or as a PDF file. Please label each letter with last name of
nominee, underscore, first name, underscore, the word “rec” and last name of person writing support letter.doc.
For example: Doe_John_recSmith.doc.
Contact information for those sending letters of recommendation on the nomination form in Section V should be
included in the nomination. A confirmation reply will be sent to those sending recommendation letters.
Alternatively, letters of recommendation may be sent by electronic mail to [email protected], fax to 571-270-9100,
or overnight delivery to the National Medal of Technology and Innovation, c/o Jennifer Lo, The United States
Patent and Trademark Office, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313-1450. Letters of recommendation must
arrive by close of business (5:00 p.m. EST), May 29, 2009.
Once submitted, nominations remain active for two years, including the year of nomination and the subsequent
nomination year. After that period, nominators must submit a new nomination in order to be considered for
selection.
All material submitted will be retained in the nominee’s file in the National Medal of Technology and Innovation
office for committee review.
Please note that the submission is not complete until a confirmation reply is received by the nominator. In the event
of difficulty, please contact (571) 272-8600.

Evaluation Criteria
The President of the United States awards the National Medal of Technology and Innovation to individuals, teams, and
companies/divisions of companies deserving of special recognition by way of their outstanding contributions to the
economic, environmental, and social well-being of the United States through the development and commercialization of
technology products, processes and concepts, and through the development of the Nation's technological manpower.
The law establishing the National Medal of Technology and Innovation highlights three areas for which the Medal may be
awarded:
• contributions to the economic well-being of the United States;
• contributions to the environmental well-being of the United States; and
• contributions to the social well-being of the United States.
Each nomination for the National Medal of Technology and Innovation is evaluated for achievements in these three areas
based on one of three tailored sets of criteria:
1. criteria for individual and team nominations for technology products, processes, and concepts;
2. criteria for company and division nominations for technology and technological innovation; or
3. criteria for promotion of technological manpower. Nominations should provide detailed information on the
nominee’s contributions in terms of the applicable criteria articulated below:
(1) Nomination for Individual or Team – Technology: Products, Processes, and Concepts
An individual or team nomination for technology products, processes, and concepts is evaluated for the individual’s or team’s
contributions to the improvement of the economic, environmental, and social well-being of the United States, and for the
challenges faced and overcome.
Economic contributions considered, but not limited to, include: importance and breadth of penetration of the
technology, process or concept, including the number of industries/sectors benefited and the depth of influence in
one or more industries/sectors; revenues; U.S. exports; U.S. job creation/wages; contribution to U.S. economic
growth, productivity, and competitiveness; importance of patents, copyrights, and other intellectual property; and
business formation.
Environmental contributions considered, but not limited to, include: environmental stewardship:
reduction/remediation/prevention of pollution (air, bodies of water, soil, drinking water, noise); conservation;
recycling, and waste reduction; global climate change; biodiversity; and sustainable development.
Contributions to social well-being considered, but not limited to, include: U.S. global prestige and leadership;
human health; safety and security (personal, homeland, defense); education, training, and enlightenment;
communication and social cohesiveness; personal productivity and life management; enhanced human performance;
greater personal time and leisure activities; and economic opportunity.

In addition to the contributions to the Nation’s well-being, a nomination may be evaluated in terms of the challenges
– technological, commercial, competitive, societal, and time – faced and overcome, including, but not limited to:
the vision that was created; development and execution of a plan, including degree of vision, persistence, risktaking, and barriers overcome; evidence extraordinary achievement and/or entrepreneurial, organizational, or
managerial skills demonstrated relevant to the achievement; degree of technical challenge; degree of
commercialization challenge; and technical novelty.
(2) Nomination for Company or Division of a Company -- Technology/Technological Innovation
A nomination of a company or division of a company for technology or technological achievement is evaluated for the
company's or division's contributions to the improvement of the economic, environmental, and social well-being of the
United States, and for the challenges faced and overcome.
Economic contributions considered, but not limited to, include: importance and breadth of penetration of the
technologies, processes or concepts, including the number of industries/sectors benefited and the depth of influence in
one or more industries/sectors; revenues; U.S. exports; U.S. job creation/wages; contribution to U.S. economic growth,
Environmental contributions considered, but not limited to, include: environmental stewardship:
reduction/remediation/prevention of pollution (air, bodies of water, soil, drinking water, noise); conservation, recycling,
and waste reduction; global climate change; biodiversity; and sustainable development.
Contributions to social well-being considered, but not limited to, include: U.S. global prestige and leadership; human
health; safety and security (personal, homeland, and defense); education, training, and enlightenment; communication
and social cohesiveness; personal productivity and life management; enhanced human performance; greater personal
time and leisure activities; and economic opportunity.
In addition to the contributions to the Nation's well-being, a nomination may be evaluated in terms of the challenges –
technical, commercial, competitive, societal, and time – faced and overcome, including, but not limited to: the vision
that was created; development and execution of a plan, including degree of vision, persistence, risk-taking, and barriers
overcome; and development of an organizational culture and/or structure capable of germinating and nurturing repeated
technological achievement and commercial success, including elements such as management leadership, strong and
sustained human resources development, technology strategy and technology management linked to corporate strategy,
an environment conducive to teamwork and cross-functional communications, customer orientation, and manufacturing
flexibility and excellence.
(3) Nomination for Promotion of Technological Manpower
A nomination for contributions to technological manpower is evaluated for the nominee’s contributions to the improvement
of the economic and social well-being of the United States, and for the challenges faced and overcome.
Economic contributions considered, but not limited to, include: increasing the supply of U.S. technological
manpower in response to market demands; improving the knowledge and effectiveness of U.S. technological
manpower; rapid development and scale-up of education and training to meet the technological manpower demands
generated by emerging technologies; business formation resulting from development of technological manpower;
expanded access to education and training resulting in an increase in the supply and effectiveness of technological
manpower; improving market responses to market demands for technological manpower, including better data,
information, analysis, public awareness, and communication among stakeholders; and improving the Nation’s ability
to attract and retain commercial activity in the United States as a result of improving the Nation’s technological
manpower.
Contributions to social well-being considered, but not limited to, include: increasing diversity of technological
workforce, and improvements in U.S. K-12 student performance in science, mathematics, and technology.
In addition to the contributions to the Nation’s well-being, a nomination may be evaluated in terms of the challenges
faced and overcome, including but not limited to the magnitude of social, economic, institutional, and time
challenges in improving the number, knowledge and effectiveness of technological manpower.