Portland State Magazine Winter 2017

24 PORTLAND STATE MAGAZINE WINTER 2017 L ast year two Portland State students invented a conductive gel that can be printed onto clothing to power electronic devices. At the same time a team of University of Oregon students created omega-rich oils and protein powders made from crickets and mealworms, and two Oregon State University students designed a safety system that holds a cut tree in place and directs its fall. These students were creating environmentally friendly inventions entered in Portland State’s Cleantech Challenge. They received mentoring and cash prizes for their efforts. The chance to compete is now getting broader, bigger and better thanks to the Lemelson Foundation and its largest single gift ever to PSU—$481,182 to the University’s Center for Entrepreneurship. The gift will fund InventOR, a statewide competition open to all Oregon colleges and universities, including community colleges, for any technology improvements—not just those addressing environmental concerns. “We want to encourage entrepreneurship that leads to the next generation of Oregon innovators,” says Chris Harder, director of Business Oregon, the state’s economic development agency that is partnering with InventOR. “PSU is honored to join with our state’s economic development leaders and the visionary Lemelson Foundation to inspire all Oregon college students to solve real-world problems and make an impact through invention,” says PSU President Wim Wiewel. The Lemelson Foundation is supporting InventOR in alignment with its mission “to use the power of invention to improve lives, by inspiring and enabling the next generation of inventors and invention-based enterprises to promote economic growth in the United States.” The foundation, which is based in Portland, was started in the early 1990s by successful inventor Jerome Lemelson and his wife, Dorothy, and their family. “Student inventors are essential to the success of Oregon’s future economy,” says Carol Dahl, executive director of the Lemelson Foundation. “By inspiring students to look critically at problems in our state and beyond, inventing solutions that can turn into successful businesses, we can ensure that great ideas make it into the marketplace. We chose to partner with Portland State University because of their educational influence and ability to foster one of the most diverse student bodies in the state.” The next generation of inventors T H E I M P A C T O F G I V I N G