{"id":16081,"date":"2025-08-06T09:30:55","date_gmt":"2025-08-06T13:30:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/research.ncsu.edu\/commercialization\/?page_id=16081"},"modified":"2025-12-02T22:44:07","modified_gmt":"2025-12-03T03:44:07","slug":"innovator-recognition","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/research.ncsu.edu\/commercialization\/innovator-recognition\/","title":{"rendered":"Innovator Recognition"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Innovator &amp; Entrepreneur of the Year<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The Innovator of the Year and Dr. John S. Risley Entrepreneur of the Year awards are presented annually at the <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/research.ncsu.edu\/commercialization\/impact\/celebration-of-innovation\/\">Celebration of Innovation<\/a><\/strong> event to faculty, staff, or student inventors or entrepreneurs that have demonstrated excellence in innovation or entrepreneurship.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"layout-one-column is-text wp-block-ncst-link-list\">\n          <h2 class=\"link-list-section__heading\">\n        Learn more\n      <\/h2>\n        <ul class=\"link-list__container\">\n      \n<li class=\"ncst-component__bold-link-container wp-block-ncst-bold-link\">\n      <a \n      href=\"https:\/\/research.ncsu.edu\/commercialization\/impact\/celebration-of-innovation\/#guidelines\"\n      class=\"ncst-component__bold-link text-link\"\n                >\n    <span class=\"text\">Nomination Criteria &amp; Guidelines<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\"><svg class=\"wolficon wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" role=\"img\"  aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\">\n\t\t<\/svg><\/span>\n    <\/a>\n      <\/li>\n  \n\n    <\/ul>\n  <\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"ncst-askew-media-text has-custombg-seven-background-color wp-block-ncst-mini-story\">\n    <div class=\"ncst-askew-media-text__container\">\n      \n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-text-column\">\n    <h2 class=\"ncst-text-column__heading\">Impactful Wolfpack Innovators<\/h2>\n    <p class=\"ncst-text-column__teaser\">Meet the NC State researchers recognized for the tangible impact of the inventions.<\/p>\n          \n<div class=\"is-text wp-block-ncst-buttons\">\n    \n<div class=\"is-style-secondary wp-block-ncst-button\">\n      <a\n        class=\"ncst-block__button-link btn\"\n        href=\"https:\/\/research.ncsu.edu\/commercialization\/impact\/celebration-of-innovation\/#awardees\"\n        data-ncst-lightbox=\"false\"\n                      >\n                  <span class=\"text\">Learn More<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\"><svg class=\"wolficon wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" role=\"img\"  aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\">\n\t\t<\/svg><\/span>\n              <\/a>\n    <\/div>\n  \n\n  <\/div>\n\n\n      <\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-media\">\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignwide size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/research.ncsu.edu\/commercialization\/files\/2024\/10\/Entrepreneur-5-edited-1-1024x576.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-15588\" srcset=\"https:\/\/research.ncsu.edu\/commercialization\/files\/2024\/10\/Entrepreneur-5-edited-1-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/research.ncsu.edu\/commercialization\/files\/2024\/10\/Entrepreneur-5-edited-1-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/research.ncsu.edu\/commercialization\/files\/2024\/10\/Entrepreneur-5-edited-1-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/research.ncsu.edu\/commercialization\/files\/2024\/10\/Entrepreneur-5-edited-1-1536x864.png 1536w, https:\/\/research.ncsu.edu\/commercialization\/files\/2024\/10\/Entrepreneur-5-edited-1-2048x1151.png 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n<\/div>\n\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">National Academy of Inventors (NAI)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">NAI Fellows<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Election to <a href=\"https:\/\/research.ncsu.edu\/commercialization\/nai-fellows\/\">National Academy of Inventor (NAI) Fellow<\/a> status is the highest professional distinction accorded solely to academic inventors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Office of Research Commercialization works with select, prestigious NC State faculty inventors each year to prepare a nomination packet for submission under the NC State Chancellor\u2019s signature.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"layout-one-column is-text wp-block-ncst-link-list\">\n          <h2 class=\"link-list-section__heading\">\n        Learn more\n      <\/h2>\n        <ul class=\"link-list__container\">\n      \n<li class=\"ncst-component__bold-link-container wp-block-ncst-bold-link\">\n      <a \n      href=\"https:\/\/research.ncsu.edu\/commercialization\/nai-fellows\/#:~:text=NAI%20Fellows%20Program.-,Call%20for%20Nominations,-Nomination%20Period\"\n      class=\"ncst-component__bold-link text-link\"\n                >\n    <span class=\"text\">Nomination Criteria &amp; Guidelines<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\"><svg class=\"wolficon wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" role=\"img\"  aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\">\n\t\t<\/svg><\/span>\n    <\/a>\n      <\/li>\n  \n\n    <\/ul>\n  <\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"ncst-askew-media-text has-custombg-four-background-color wp-block-ncst-mini-story\">\n    <div class=\"ncst-askew-media-text__container\">\n      \n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-text-column\">\n    <h2 class=\"ncst-text-column__heading\">Nationally-recognized Researchers<\/h2>\n    <p class=\"ncst-text-column__teaser\">Meet the NC State researchers who been recognized nationally for their contributions to our society.<\/p>\n          \n<div class=\"is-text wp-block-ncst-buttons\">\n    \n<div class=\"is-style-secondary wp-block-ncst-button\">\n      <a\n        class=\"ncst-block__button-link btn\"\n        href=\"https:\/\/research.ncsu.edu\/commercialization\/nai-fellows\/#Fellows\"\n        data-ncst-lightbox=\"false\"\n                      >\n                  <span class=\"text\">Learn More<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\"><svg class=\"wolficon wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" role=\"img\"  aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\">\n\t\t<\/svg><\/span>\n              <\/a>\n    <\/div>\n  \n\n  <\/div>\n\n\n      <\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-media\">\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignwide size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1422\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/research.ncsu.edu\/commercialization\/files\/2015\/11\/Baliga-HEADER.jpg\" alt=\"Inventor holding lightbulb\" class=\"wp-image-12423\" srcset=\"https:\/\/research.ncsu.edu\/commercialization\/files\/2015\/11\/Baliga-HEADER.jpg 1422w, https:\/\/research.ncsu.edu\/commercialization\/files\/2015\/11\/Baliga-HEADER-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/research.ncsu.edu\/commercialization\/files\/2015\/11\/Baliga-HEADER-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/research.ncsu.edu\/commercialization\/files\/2015\/11\/Baliga-HEADER-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/research.ncsu.edu\/commercialization\/files\/2015\/11\/Baliga-HEADER-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/research.ncsu.edu\/commercialization\/files\/2015\/11\/Baliga-HEADER-950x534.jpg 950w, https:\/\/research.ncsu.edu\/commercialization\/files\/2015\/11\/Baliga-HEADER-600x338.jpg 600w, https:\/\/research.ncsu.edu\/commercialization\/files\/2015\/11\/Baliga-HEADER-460x259.jpg 460w, https:\/\/research.ncsu.edu\/commercialization\/files\/2015\/11\/Baliga-HEADER-230x129.jpg 230w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1422px) 100vw, 1422px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n<\/div>\n\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">NAI Senior Member<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>NAI Senior Members are active faculty inventors recognized for the realized or high-impact potential of their research innovations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Self-nominations are permitted for Senior Member status and new nominations are accepted from  October to December of each year.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"is-text wp-block-ncst-buttons\">\n    \n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-button\">\n      <a\n        class=\"ncst-block__button-link btn\"\n        href=\"https:\/\/academyofinventors.org\/about-the-senior-members-program\/\"\n        data-ncst-lightbox=\"false\"\n         target=\"_blank\"          rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"       >\n                  <span class=\"text\">Learn More<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\"><svg class=\"wolficon wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" role=\"img\"  aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\">\n\t\t<\/svg><\/span>\n              <\/a>\n    <\/div>\n  \n\n  <\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"has-custombg-one-background-color wp-block-ncst-button-spotlight\">\n    <div class=\"button-spotlight__container\">\n        <div class='button-spotlight__content-container'>\n      <h2 class=\"button-spotlight__heading\">Other Awards &amp; Recognition<\/h2>\n              <p class=\"button-spotlight__support\">The Office of Faculty Excellence works with NC State researchers to facilitate internal and external recognition opportunities.<\/p>\n            \n<div class=\"is-style-secondary wp-block-ncst-button\">\n      <a\n        class=\"ncst-block__button-link btn\"\n        href=\"https:\/\/provost.ncsu.edu\/ofe\/awards-and-honors\/\"\n        data-ncst-lightbox=\"false\"\n         target=\"_blank\"          rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"       >\n                  <span class=\"text\">Learn More<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\"><svg class=\"wolficon wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" role=\"img\"  aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\">\n\t\t<\/svg><\/span>\n              <\/a>\n    <\/div>\n  \n\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Innovator &amp; Entrepreneur of the Year The Innovator of the Year and Dr. John S. Risley Entrepreneur of the Year awards are presented annually at the Celebration of Innovation event&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":103,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"source":"","ncst_custom_author":"","ncst_show_custom_author":false,"ncst_dynamicHeaderBlockName":"ncst\/floating-box-header","ncst_dynamicHeaderData":"{\"pageIntro\":\"Our office works to recognize impactful NC State researchers and their work on a regional and national level.\",\"backgroundColor\":\"red-400\",\"boxPosition\":\"left\",\"ctaNum\":\"one\",\"useCTA\":false,\"imageURL\":\"https:\/\/research.ncsu.edu\/commercialization\/files\/2025\/08\/Downtown_Belltower.jpg\",\"imageID\":16103}","ncst_content_audit_freq":"","ncst_content_audit_date":"","ncst_content_audit_display":false,"ncst_backToTopFlag":"","footnotes":""},"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16081","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.1.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Innovator Recognition - Office of Research Commercialization<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/research.ncsu.edu\/commercialization\/innovator-recognition\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Innovator Recognition - Office of Research Commercialization\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Innovator &amp; Entrepreneur of the Year The Innovator of the Year and Dr. John S. 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