[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 9 (Friday, January 13, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2047-2048]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-600]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

United States Patent and Trademark Office

[Docket No. PTO-C-2011-0093]


National Medal of Technology and Innovation Call for 2012 
Nominations

AGENCY: United States Patent and Trademark Office, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice and request for nominations.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce (United States Patent and Trademark 
Office) is accepting nominations for the National Medal of Technology 
and Innovation (NMTI). Since establishment by Congress in the 
Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980, the President of 
the United States has awarded the annual National Medal of Technology 
and Innovation (initially known as the National Medal of Technology) to 
our nation's leading innovators. If you know of a candidate who has 
made an outstanding, lasting contribution to the economy through the 
promotion of technology or technological manpower, you may obtain a 
nomination form from: http://go.usa.gov/1dU.

ADDRESSES: The NMTI nomination form for the year 2012 may be obtained 
by visiting the USPTO Web site at http://go.usa.gov/1dU. Nomination 
applications should be submitted to Steven Berk, Program Manager, 
National Medal of Technology and Innovation Program, by electronic mail 
to: [email protected] or by mail to: Steven Berk, NMTI Program Manager, 
United States Patent and Trademark Office, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, 
Virginia 22313-1450.

DATES: The deadline for submission of a nomination is March 31, 2012.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steven Berk, Program Manager, National 
Medal of Technology and Innovation Program, United States Patent and 
Trademark Office, 600 Dulany Street, Alexandria, VA 22314; telephone 
(571) 272-8400 or by electronic mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Enacted by Congress in the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation 
Act of 1980, the National Medal of Technology was first awarded in 
1985. On August 9, 2007, the President signed the America COMPETES 
(Creating Opportunities to Meaningfully Promote Excellence in 
Technology, Education, and Science) Act of 2007. The Act amended 
Section 16 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980, 
changing the name of the Medal to the ``National Medal of Technology 
and Innovation.'' The Medal is the highest honor awarded by the 
President of the United States to America's leading innovators in the 
field of technology and is given annually to individuals, teams, or 
companies who have made outstanding contributions to the promotion of 
technology and technological manpower for the improvement of the 
economic, environmental or social well-being of the United States. The 
primary purpose of the National Medal of Technology and Innovation is 
to recognize American innovators whose vision, creativity, and 
brilliance in moving ideas to market has had a profound and lasting 
impact on our economy and way of life. The Medal highlights the 
national importance of fostering technological innovation based upon 
solid science, resulting in commercially successful products and 
services.

[[Page 2048]]

Eligibility and Nomination Criteria

    Nomination Guidelines containing information on eligibility and 
nomination criteria are at http://go.usa.gov/1dU.

    Dated: January 9, 2012.
David J. Kappos,
Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of 
the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
[FR Doc. 2012-600 Filed 1-12-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P