2022 Tech Champion Award Honoree Announced

Portland, Ore. – March 21, 2022 –The Technology Association of Oregon (TAO) announced today the selection of The Lemelson Foundation as the Tech Champion Award winner. The Lemelson Foundation will be recognized as part of the Oregon Technology Awards ceremony, an annual program celebrating excellence and achievement in the region’s technology industry, on Tuesday, May 3rd at the Oregon Convention Center.

2022 Tech Champion award winner, The Lemelson Foundation, was established by Jerome and Dorothy Lemelson in 1992 with the vision of cultivating future generations of inventors to create a better world. Based in Portland, Oregon, the Foundation supports the people and systems needed to build a vibrant invention ecosystem, leading to the creation of products that solve local and global challenges, represent social and environmental responsibility, and have the potential to transform and improve lives at scale.  The Foundation is dedicated to inspiring young inventors through access to Invention Education, and to increasing access to entrepreneurial support and mentorship for hardware and tech-based entrepreneurs launching invention-based businesses in the U.S., India, and East Africa. To date, the Foundation has made grants totaling more than $300 million in support of its mission.

Their funding supports inventions focused on problems worth solving,  resulting in new solutions with positive social impact that lead to financially viable and environmentally responsible products and businesses that transform lives at scale. In addition, their broad partner network fosters an enabling environment by inspiring youth to become inventors, increasing access to invention and entrepreneurship education, and supporting the launch, early incubation and mentoring of invention-based enterprises.“The Tech Champion award recognizes leaders who don't work for a technology company, but have made a powerful impact on industry. The Lemelson Foundation has been an incredible advocate and funder of the next generation of student inventors and invention-driven entrepreneurs.” says TAO’s Newberry.

“They are cultivating a new generation of invention-based entrepreneurs to address critical social and environmental issues, and reach and serve communities with the greatest needs. We have already seen that work has had a tremendous impact not only on our regional community, but throughout the United States and around the world, and I can’t think of a better recipient of our 2022 award.”The support of The Lemelson Foundation for regional organizations and programming is broad and includes including Portland State University’s Invent Oregon competition, Invention Bootcamp, and Oregon MESA program, Oregon State University Foundation’s iINVENT mobile invention camp, TiE Oregon’s Young Entrepreneurs (TYE) program, Oregon STEM, Oregon Tech, the University of Oregon, and many others.“It is an honor to receive the 2022 Tech Champion Award,” said Rob Schneider, Executive Director for The Lemelson Foundation.

“We are thrilled to be able to play a role in the technology and innovation economy in Oregon, particularly focusing on how education, invention and entrepreneurship can drive inclusive economic growth that makes Oregon a great place to live, and also helps address inequality in our state.”

‍About the Oregon Technology Awards: The 2022 Oregon Technology Awards is presented by JLL and United Healthcare. This year marks its 38th year, and TAO anticipates drawing more than 600 attendees, including entrepreneurs and tech professionals from across the region and around the globe. For more information about the 2022 Oregon Technology Awards Ceremony on May 3 at the Oregon Convention Center, please click here.

‍About Technology Association of Oregon (TAO): TAO is a local nonprofit working to build opportunities, better our economy and unify a voice for innovation in Oregon and beyond. A recognized leader in shaping and growing technology and business communities, TAO empowers businesses and entrepreneurs through networks, events, advocacy, resources and more. With over 500 member-companies, TAO’s network brings together some of the largest companies in the world, small startups, and tech-enabled companies that are using technology to drive growth and innovation.

For more information please visit www.techoregon.org.

‍For Press Inquiries:

‍Tom Sollitt
Marketing Manager
tom.sollitt@techoregon.org