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The basics:

• Awards will honor 12 patents from 11 NJ-based organizations
• Trailblazers recognized for leadership in biotech, AI, education
• 2025 ceremony set for Nov. 20 at Bell Works in Holmdel
• Awards celebrate NJ’s impact on global innovation and invention

The 46th annual Edison Patent Awards Ceremony and Reception will honor a number of New Jersey organizations and trailblazers.

The Research & Development Council of New Jersey announced the 2025 honorees Aug. 5. The Edison Patent Awards represent the state’s highest honor for invention and innovation. The annual ceremony will recognize honorees Nov. 20 at Bell Works in Holmdel.

The event and awards shine a spotlight on the discoveries made across the state in medicine, technology, energy, defense and more. This year’s ceremony has a theme of “Powering the Future Through Invention.”

“The Edison Patent Awards is the largest statewide celebration recognizing research organizations and inventors whose breakthroughs power New Jersey’s innovation economy,” said Virginie Maillard, chair of the Research & Development Council of New Jersey; and head of global research in simulation and digital twin and head of research in U.S. for Siemens Foundational Technologies.

“Each year, we’re reminded that invention is at the heart of progress, and that the work being done right here in New Jersey has global impact.”

The ceremony will recognize 12 patents developed by 11 organizations – along with six trailblazers whose leadership, research and advocacy have made a lasting impact.

The 2025 winners include:

• Avantor and Amgen – Biotechnology
  Alternate detergents for viral inactivation
  Inventors: Gabriella Perell, Rosa Daneshvar, Martina Kopp
• Merck & Co. Inc. – Pharmaceutical
  Solid forms of ceftolozane and processes for preparing
  Inventors: Kevin Matthew Malone, Eric Sirota, Richard Varsolona, Donald Gauthier Jr., Hong Ren
• MTF Biologics – Biomaterials
  Tissue-derived tissuegenic implants, and methods of fabricating and using same
  Inventors: Eric Semler, Alex Callahan, Joed Canales, Katrina Carroll, Anouska Dasgupta, Roman Shikanovich
• New Jersey Institute of Technology – Technology Transfer
  Method for 3D printing a thermally curable polymeric ink
  Inventors: Murat Guvendiren, Chya-Yan Liaw, Andrew House
• Nokia Bell Labs – Telecommunications
  Topology aware cache cooperation
  Inventors: Jairo Esteban, Andre Beck, Volker Hilt, Ivica Rimac
• Princeton University – Consumer
  Methods, devices and compositions for preserving human milk
  Inventors: Justin Silpe, Bonnie Bassler
• Rowan University – Medical Diagnostics
  Method for detecting radiological progression in cancer surveillance
  Inventors: Hassan Fathallah-Shaykh, Nidhal Bouaynaya
• Rutgers University – Emerging Technology
  Light-field messaging to embed a hidden message into a carrier
  Inventors: Eric Wengrowski, Kristin Dana
• Rutgers University – Industrial Processes
  Methods for low energy inorganic material synthesis
  Inventors: Richard Riman, Daniel Kopp
• Siemens AG – Information Technology
  Supervisory device with deployed independent application containers for automation control programs
  Inventors: Francesco Bleve, Holger Strobel
• Stryker – Medical Device
  Modular hinge knee prosthesis and improvements of same
  Inventor: Damon Servidio
• U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) Armaments Center – Defense
  Distributed geospatial communications system for UAV monitoring
  Inventor: Paul Manz

The six trailblazers include:

• Science & Technology Medal: Robert Cohen vice president, Innovation and Technology, Stryker’s Orthopedics Group
  For his decades of leadership in orthopedic innovation and digital health
• Visionary Award: John Crowley president and CEO, Biotechnology Innovation Award (BIO)
  For his enduring impact on rare disease innovation and biotechnology advocacy
• Educator of the Year: Dr. Brian Strom chancellor of Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences and executive vice president for health affairs, Rutgers University
  For his transformative impact on medical education in New Jersey
• Catalyst Award: Craig Arnold vice dean for innovation and university innovation officer, Princeton University
  For his leadership in Princeton and the state as a hub for innovation, including playing a key role in launching the NJ AI Hub
• Emerging Tech Award: Nathaniel Banks and Yidian Liu co-founders, PolyGone Systems
  For their groundbreaking microplastic filtration technology

“These six individuals exemplify the many ways innovation can drive real-world change – from saving lives and cleaning our environment to building a stronger research infrastructure for the future,” said Kim Case, executive director of the R&D Council. “Their vision dedication, and leadership continue to inspire the next generation of scientists, entrepreneurs, and problem-solvers across our state.”

More information on the ceremony is available here.