The Lemelson Foundation Announces Recently Approved Projects
About The Lemelson Foundation:
Founded by Jerome Lemelson, one of U.S. history’s most prolific inventors, the Lemelson Foundation uses its resources to recognize and celebrate accomplished inventors, inspire and mentor young people and grassroots inventors and entrepreneurs, disseminate technologies that improve people’s lives and generate entrepreneurial opportunity, and research and share information that illuminates the value of invention to society. To date, the Foundation has donated or committed more than $140 million in support of its mission.
Conversion Sound is developing high quality hearing aids that are affordable and accessible, and distribution channels for the technology in developing countries as well as in the U.S. Its tiered pricing approach uses cross subsidies – profits derived from wealthier clients allow lower priced (or even free) devices to flow to poor clients. Link: http://www.lemelson.org/programs2/detail.php?id=818
Envirofit International is pursuing full-scale market development of its direct-injection retrofit kits for motorcycle taxis in Vigan, Philippines. A primary source of outdoor air pollution is two-stroke engines, which power 100 million vehicles across Southeast Asia. Envirofit aims to install its kit on 3,000 two-stroke motorcycle taxi engines in Vigan by 2010, eliminating 3,000 tons per year of CO2and infusing the local economy with $1.4 million in fuel cost savings. The organization plans to expand its reach throughout the Philippines and to other global markets. Links: http://www.envirofit.org/and http://www.lemelson.org/programs2/detail.php?id=796
Freeplay Foundation is developing the Lifelight, based on Freeplay Energy’s patented wind-up technology. The Lifelight does not require an external source of electricity, making it ideal for use in rural and peri-urban contexts. When used in conjunction with high-quality netting, the devices will create mosquito-free – and therefore safe – light spaces for work, study and leisure. The products will be developed for the unique African context, and disseminated through market-based distribution channels. Links: http://www.freeplayfoundation.org/ and http://www.lemelson.org/programs2/detail.php?id=821
International Development Enterprises, India (IDEI) is continuing a program to establish a supply distribution chain for micro-irrigation systems (“KB Drip”) in Tamil Nadu, India. Building on their previous success, IDEI will increase drip irrigation to additional farmers, strengthen their strategic alliances and supply chain, and introduce new cash crops to the area. Links: http://www.ide-india.org/and http://www.lemelson.org/programs2/detail.php?id=670
Micro-enterprise Inventor’s Program of Oregon (MIPO), a project of East County One Stop (ECOS) is using a two-year continuation grant to provide independent inventors in Oregon with access to resources, mentoring, training, and networking to develop, market and protect their inventions and intellectual property. Link: http://www.mipooregon.org/
MIT Press is using a three-year grant from the Lemelson Foundation to develop and market its Innovations journal and to sponsor 180 three-year subscriptions to Innovations for Foundation grantees and partners. Links: http://mitpress.mit.edu/main/home/default.asp and http://www.lemelson.org/programs2/detail.php?id=820
OptiOpia, a for-profit company, is devising a low-cost, portable, and easy to operate auto-refractor (eye testing) technology to provide accurate prescriptions for corrective lenses, and a lens-molder to use those prescriptions for on-the-spot manufacturing of quality, affordable eyeglass lenses. The company is exploring partnerships with non-profit eye care agencies to distribute and provide training on the technologies. Links: http://www.optiopia.com/ and http://www.lemelson.org/programs2/detail.php?id=817
Saturday Academy is using a three-year grant to expand and enhance its Apprenticeships in Science and Engineering (ASE) Program by increasing participation of high-achieving, low-income students and contributing to the program’s long-term sustainability. Link: http://www.saturdayacademy.org/
Strawjet Inc., an Oregon-based for-profit company, is developing technologies that bind waste straw (straw left over after the harvest of grains) to produce cords that can be used as low-cost, non-toxic, energy-efficient building materials. The product provides insulation and withstands stress from earthquakes better than the typical brick and mortar construction used in the developing world. Links:http://www.greeninventor.org/index.shtml and http://www.lemelson.org/programs2/detail.php?id=819