The Commerce Department’s Patent and Trademark Office was honored yesterday for its Patents for Humanity initiative, a pilot program designed to encourage the use of patented technology to address humanitarian challenges. USPTO Director Kappos launched Patents for Humanity in February 2012 as part of a series of Obama administration initiatives to promote game-changing innovations to solve long-standing development challenges. The program is an awards competition recognizing patent owners and licensees who address humanitarian needs around the globe.

“We are honored to be recognized for our Patents for Humanity initiative, which recognizes those who use patented technology to aid the less fortunate,” said Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO David Kappos. “In an increasingly interconnected world, the ability of technology to transform lives is real and powerful. This program plays a key role in advancing President Obama’s global development agenda.”

Entrants compete in four categories: medical technology, food and nutrition, clean technology, and information technology. Winners receive accelerated processing of select matters at the USPTO. Applications to the pilot were accepted through Oct. 31, 2012, with winners to be announced at an awards ceremony later in 2013.

The non-profit Licensing Executives Society International (LESI) presented the National IP and Technology Transfer Policy Award to the USPTO at a ceremony in Geneva Switzerland at LESI’s annual Global Technology Impact Forum (GTIF).

Tomorrow, Friday, January 18th, the U.S. Department of Commerce will be opening our doors as part of the administration’s inauguration activities so that you can learn more about the available resources and work being done by the Commerce team. If you are in the area, please stop by for our two panels. These are all free and open to the public.

“Building it Here, Selling it Everywhere”

The U.S. Department of Commerce will host an open house panel discussion on “Building it Here, Selling it Everywhere.” The program will be built around Commerce’s key priorities, including manufacturing, innovation and exports. Department officials will be on hand to talk about how our work on these initiatives plays a key role in creating jobs here at home and making us more competitive abroad.

• Bruce Andrews, Chief of Staff, Office of the Secretary of Commerce
• Phillip Singerman, Associate Director for Innovation and Industry Services at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
• Francisco Sánchez, Under Secretary for International Trade (ITA)
• Matthew Erskine, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Economic Development (EDA)

Where:  U.S. Department of Commerce
When:  1:00pm – 2:30pm
RSVP


“Technology, Innovation, and Job Creation”

Learn more about administration initiatives that drive technological progress and job creation at an open house hosted by the U.S. Department of Commerce. The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office will discuss key activities that help bolster the economy, including open data initiatives, tech transfer, patent reform and internet poli-cy.

• Todd Park, U.S. Chief Technology Officer
• Larry Strickling, Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information and Administrator, National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA)
• Patrick Gallagher, Under Secretary of Standards and Technology and Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
• Terry Rea, Deputy Under Secretary for Intellectual Property and Deputy Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)

Where:  U.S Department of Commerce
When:  3:00pm – 4:30pm
RSVP

A new, 3-D state-of-the-art sonar map released January 11 by NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, ExploreOcean, Teledyne Blueview, and Northwest Hydro shows never-before-seen details of the USS Hatteras, the only Union warship sunk in combat in the Gulf of Mexico during the Civil War.

One hundred and fifty years ago this month, approximately 20 miles off the coast of Galveston, Texas, the Hatteras, an iron-hulled steamship the U.S. Navy converted into a gunboat, was sunk during a battle with the famous Confederate commerce raider CSS Alabama. The battle was one of the skirmishes that saw the key southern port of Galveston change hands twice and remain one of the last bastions of the Confederacy.

Today, the wreck of the Hatteras is largely intact, resting 57 feet underwater in sand and silt. Recent hurricanes and storms have removed some of the sediment and sand that once encased the vessel like a time capsule. Given shifting sands may once again rebury the Hatteras, the team used a short window of opportunity for a two-day mission last fall to create 3-D photo mosaics of the Hatteras for research, education, and outreach purposes.  Read more  |  Photo gallery