UNM Rainforest Innovations has presented the first ever Lifetime Achievement Innovation Award to an outstanding University of New Mexico inventor who we believe exemplifies the spirit of innovation: Dr. Steven R.J. Brueck, distinguished professor emeritus in the department of electrical and computer engineering and director emeritus of the Center for High Technology Materials.
Dr. Brueck has made outstanding achievements since joining the faculty at the University of New Mexico in 1985. In 1986 he was appointed director of the Center for High Technology Materials, in 2006 he was named a distinguished professor, in 2010 he was selected as the first Rainforest Innovation Fellow, in 2013 he was an inaugural recipient of the UNM Presidential Award of Distinction, and in 2015 he was elected a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI).
He has been a very productive inventor over the years, receiving 88 issued U.S. patents to date through UNM Rainforest Innovations which have spurred the development of 7 different startup companies. The total licensing income generated has been approximately $84 million dollars.
For these achievements, and more, the UNM Foundation has decided to create an endowment fund in his name to benefit the Center for High Technology Materials. This endowment will allow CHTM to support the next generation of innovators.
Below is a video featuring Brueck’s colleagues, collaborators, and friends and their congratulations for his award.