News and Announcements
Building the Next Generation of Innovators: Reflections From the 15th Annual NAI Conference
Published Date
By Chinwe Ohanele Agwu
As a sponsor of the National Academy of Inventors’ 15th Annual Conference, the Michelson Intellectual Property Institute (MIIP) joined leaders from academia, industry, and government to explore the evolving role of universities in the innovation ecosystem. This year’s discussions focused on how universities can evolve from centers of knowledge creation to engines of knowledge transfer by strengthening commercialization pathways, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, and preparing students and faculty to bring discoveries into the marketplace. The conversations closely aligned with MIIP’s mission to expand intellectual property education and empower the next generation of innovators.
In a panel moderated by USPTO Director John Squires that included Fred Farina of Caltech, Dr. Luna Lu of Purdue University, and Ram Krishnan of Qualcomm, Dr. Erwin Gianchandani of the National Science Foundation shared that three-quarters of computer science PhDs used to go into academia. Today, three-quarters go into industry. That alone reframes how talented individuals view the role of universities.
Robert Lemelson, Vice President of the Lemelson Foundation, discussed the role of philanthropy in advancing innovation and education.
A fireside chat with Dr. Gary Michelson, Dr. Robert Langer and Dr. Paul Sandberg explored the mindset of invention, the significance of interdisciplinary collaboration, and how philanthropy can drive breakthrough innovation and real-world impact. Mark Skalny Photography (c)2026
Dr. Michelson underscored the importance of inventors being able to work across different disciplines. “Most of the low-hanging fruit in medical science has been solved. We’re now going to the truly daunting problems that require processing massive data — which requires computational scientists doing deep machine learning and pattern recognition. The lines between chemistry, biology, and engineering are all blurring…interdisciplinary collaboration is now essential. It’s not optional,” Michelson said.
About Michelson IP
The Michelson Institute for Intellectual Property, an initiative of the Michelson 20MM Foundation, provides access to empowering IP education for budding inventors and entrepreneurs. Michelson 20MM was founded thanks to the generous support of renowned spinal surgeon Dr. Gary K. Michelson and Alya Michelson. To learn more, visit 20mm.org.