Distinguished University Innovator of the Year Award

About The Award

Eligibility

A current member of the tenure/tenure track, research, clinical faculty or a team of up to five faculty members.

Award

An honorarium of $5,000 to the individual recipient or shared by the team recipients.

Attendance

The Distinguished University Innovator(s) must be available to attend Celebrate Invention in person on September 24, 2026 in order to be eligible for the award.

Award Criteria

The Distinguished University Innovator(s) will have accomplished one or more of the following:

• Developed a breakthrough idea, process or technology and demonstrated its transformational potential relative to an otherwise conventionally accepted practice or market;
• Taken a significant innovation developed in the University through to market-readiness, either through partnership with a commercial enterprise, licensing a patent or by starting a company;
• Demonstrated a new method or means for moving innovations from the University into the private sector through the establishment of partnerships or other relationships that promote the strategic or economic position of the region, state or nation.

Submitting Your Nomination

Please use the Google Form above to submit your Distinguished University Innovator of the Year Award nomination. When submitting your nomination, please have the following information ready:

• Your (the nominator’s) name, title/organization affiliation, email and relationship to the nominee
• Your nominee’s name, title/organization affiliation and email
• Responses to the following questions:
• • Innovation & Commercial Achievement
    300-500 words
    Describe the innovation for which the nominee should be recognized. Please include:

    – The problem or unmet need it addresses

    – What makes the innovation novel or distinctive

    – Its stage and pathway of commercialization (e.g., license to an existing company, startup formation, stage of regulatory approval, market entry, partnerships, widespread adoption in practice)

    – Clear evidence of commercial realization, implementation or deployment

  • Impact & Reach
    300-500 words
    Describe the impact of the innovation to date. Please address:

    – Who benefits and how (e.g., patients, industries, communities, public sector)

    – Measurable indicators of impact where available such as adoption rates, revenue generation, clinical outcomes, cost savings, policy influence or job creation

    – The scope and scale of its reach (regional, national, global)

    – Demonstrates meaningful contribution to the University of Michigan’s innovation ecosystem, institutional reputation and public mission

  • Leadership & Commercialization Contribution
    300-500 words
    Describe the nominee’s specific role in developing and advancing this innovation. Please include:

    – The nominee’s intellectual and/or strategic leadership

    – Engagement with industry  to further develop and/or fund the innovation, if applicable

    – Entrepreneurial activities, if applicable, including founding or advising startups, building teams, securing investment, developing partnerships or shaping commercialization strategy

    – Major challenges encountered and how the nominee helped overcome them

    – Contributions to mentoring students, trainees or colleagues in innovation and translation, if applicable

  • Future Trajectory & Strategic Promise
    300-500 words
    Describe the innovation’s future trajectory. Please include:

    – Anticipated milestones and timing (e.g., regulatory, clinical, market expansion, product development)

    – Potential for scalability, broader application or platform growth

    – Evidence that the innovation is positioned for sustained and lasting impact

    – How the innovation positions the University of Michigan as a leader in this domain

  • Additional Context
    Optional, 300 words maximum

    Please share any additional context that positions this innovation within the nominee’s broader body of work or its strategic importance to the University of Michigan.

Previous Award Recipients

View a list of previous award recipients for the Distinguished University Innovator of the Year award.