Innovation Shines Brightly in New Jersey
New Jersey, a state long recognized for its contributions to science and technology, continues to be a hub of groundbreaking innovation. The annual Edison Patent Awards, hosted by the Research & Development Council of New Jersey, serves as a powerful testament to this legacy. This year, the awards celebrated a new cohort of trailblazers and their visionary patents, showcasing the state’s role in “Powering the Future Through Invention.” The event, which took place at the iconic Bell Works in Holmdel, brought together leaders from industry and academia to honor the brilliant minds shaping our world.
The 2025 Edison Patent Awards recognized a diverse range of innovations from both established corporations and esteemed universities. Among the honorees were Avantor and Amgen, who were celebrated in the Biotechnology category for their work on “Alternate detergents for viral inactivation.” This discovery, by inventors Gabriella Perell, Rosa Daneshvar, and Martina Kopp, is a perfect example of how New Jersey is at the forefront of life-saving research.
Pharmaceutical giant Merck & Co. Inc. was honored for their patent on “Solid forms of ceftolozane and processes for preparing,” a critical advancement from inventors Kevin Matthew Malone, Eric Sirota, Richard Varsolona, Donald Gauthier Jr., and Hong Ren. In the field of biomaterials, MTF Biologics received an award for their “Tissue-derived tissuegenic implants,” an innovation by a team of inventors including Eric Semler, Alex Callahan, and Joed Canales.
Academic institutions were also well-represented, proving that the synergy between education and industry is thriving in the Garden State. The New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) was recognized in the Technology Transfer category for their “Method for 3D printing a thermally curable polymeric ink,” a novel invention from Murat Guvendiren, Chya-Yan Liaw, and Andrew House. Princeton University’s inventors Justin Silpe and Bonnie Bassler were celebrated in the Consumer category for their methods and devices for preserving human milk, a significant contribution to health and wellness. Rowan University and Rutgers University also received accolades, with Rutgers securing two distinct awards for their work in both Emerging Technology and Industrial Processes.
Beyond the patents, the awards ceremony also paid tribute to six exceptional individuals who are leaving a lasting impact on New Jersey’s innovation ecosystem. The Science & Technology Medal was awarded to Robert Cohen of Stryker’s Orthopedics Group for his decades of leadership in orthopedic innovation. John Crowley, President and CEO of the Biotechnology Innovation Award (BIO), received the Visionary Award for his advocacy and impact on rare disease innovation. Dr. Brian Strom of Rutgers University was named Educator of the Year for his transformative work in medical education, while Craig Arnold of Princeton University received the Catalyst Award for his role in launching the NJ AI Hub. Nathaniel Banks and Yidian Liu, co-founders of PolyGone Systems, were honored with the Emerging Tech Award for their groundbreaking microplastic filtration technology. As Kim Case, Executive Director of the R&D Council, noted, these 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.”
The Edison Patent Awards not only celebrate the past year’s incredible achievements but also inspire the next generation of scientists and entrepreneurs to continue pushing the boundaries of what’s possible, right here in New Jersey. To learn more about the incredible work being done in the state’s business and innovation sectors, you can explore more articles on this topic here.
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 - 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.”
