“We need to meet people where they are and teach them the advantages of using the protection provided to them by patents and trademarks as a bridge between the lab and the market,” she says. So, how can we unleash the potential of women inventors? We agree with Kathi Vidal, USPTO director, who believes it’s all about support and opportunity. Typically, that results in a wider variety of ideas and quicker problem resolution.

The USPTO estimates that if women patented at the same rate as men, GDP would increase by 2.7 percent, or more than $1 trillion annually.Įvery successful business leader knows that when you bring together individuals from different backgrounds and experiences, they are going to view problems through multiple lenses.

But as women leaders in tech, we feel passionately about using our voices to not only highlight the disparity at hand, but also shedding light on paths to progress within our own organization in the hope that it sparks action for others grappling with similar challenges.Īnd if we get this right, we’re not only honoring one of society’s most basic tenets, that every person has inherent value and deserves an equal opportunity, we’re tapping into unbridled economic growth. Admittedly, attempting to untangle the systemic obstacles that have slowed progress to date is daunting to say the least. One in eight.Ĭlosing the gap in women inventorship is something that the tech industry has struggled with for years. Today, according to the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), women account for only 13 percent of inventor-patentees. While we personally believe the names of prolific inventors like Grace Hopper, Rosalind Franklin and Shirley Jackson should be household names, the truth is, it’s easier to name male inventors simply because they far outnumber women. If you were asked to name an inventor, there’s a good chance names like Thomas Edison, Benjamin Franklin or Alexander Graham Bell would immediately jump to mind.īut what if you weren’t allowed to name a man? Drawing a blank?

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