Intellectual Ventures Capitol Hill Tech Expo – A Breakthrough Success

Guests of our "technology expo" mingle and learn.

What do the following have in common?

• An ultra-efficient advanced nuclear reactor,
• An advanced satellite antenna that will simplify satellite connections for broadband Internet on the go,
• A laser-based insect-killing zapper machine that diminishes the spread of diseases like malaria
• And a vaccine storage device that the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control feel could make Ebola vaccine trials in Sierra Leone and Guinea possible.

These diverse, independent and seemingly uncommon breakthrough technologies all originated at Intellectual Ventures.

On May 19, in honor of National Inventors Month, Intellectual Ventures hosted a “technology expo” featuring some of the spin-out, breakthrough technology companies whose origins started at the IV Lab and owe their existence to the unique business model that Intellectual Ventures has created.

The crowded Rayburn House Office Foyer served as host to several hundred Capitol Hill policy makers and staffers who had the opportunity to see first-hand these breakthrough technologies.

“Intellectual Ventures helps create a world in which invention can thrive through the shared commitment to research, collaboration, investment and defense of inventors’ rights,” said Russ Merbeth, Intellectual Ventures Chief Policy Counsel. “From IV’s inception in 2000, the ultimate goal was to build a scalable invention company that supports, nurtures and champions inventors, undertaking the hard work of creating breakthroughs, and these technologies are some of the fruits of that vision.”

On hand at the expo were representatives from TerraPower and IV’s Global Good and IV Lab team to illustrate that a commitment to invention can revolutionize how the world innovates when we create smart policies that protect the inventor and enable companies to commercialize world changing technologies that improve communities on a global scale.

Members of Congress like U.S. House Science, Space and Technology Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-TX) saw first-hand at the expo how his support for a strong patent system has enabled the U.S. to remain in a leadership role for global innovation.

The day was closed by Ph. D. physicist and patent holder Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) who addressed the crowd and reinforced how vitally important protecting Intellectual Property rights are for the success of U.S. technology companies. We couldn’t agree more.