Bearers of Innovation logo
Date
Wednesday, May 20, 2026
Time
11:30 a.m. – 1:45 p.m.
Locations
Ithaca & New York City
Attendance
By invitation only

Bearers of Innovation: A One Cornell Celebration is an annual gathering honoring the Cornell researchers and inventors whose work took a meaningful step forward, whether by disclosing a technology for the first time or reaching a licensing milestone.

This year’s celebration recognizes inventors from FY2024 and FY2025, bringing together milestones from two years across Cornell campuses in Ithaca, Geneva, Cornell Tech and Weill Cornell Medicine.

From the moment a researcher identifies a discovery worth protecting, to the filing of a patent, to a licensing agreement or the launch of a company, every step in the commercialization journey represents a deliberate choice to move science forward. This event exists to recognize those choices, to celebrate the inventors who made them, and to inspire the broader Cornell community to take that first step.

2026 Event Snapshot

75

Lead inventors recognized for a first-time disclosure

241

Inventors recognized for a licensed technology

2

Fiscal years celebrated: FY2024 and FY2025

Who is recognized

First-time disclosures

Lead inventors who submitted their inaugural invention disclosure to CTL during the recognition period. They took the first step in the commercialization journey.

Licensed technologies

Inventors whose technologies were licensed or optioned during the recognition period. They reached a major milestone in potentially bringing their research to market.

Locations

Ithaca

Statler Ballroom

Statler Hall, Cornell University
106 Statler Dr, Ithaca, NY 14853

New York City

Griffis Faculty Club

Weill Cornell Medicine
1300 York Ave, New York, NY 10065

Agenda

11:30 AM

Lunch buffet open

Welcome reception, poster viewing, and pre-game activities

12:00 PM

Welcome remarks

Alice Li, Executive Director at CTL & Lisa Placanica, Senior Managing Director at CTL at Weill Cornell Medicine

Alice Li and Lisa Placanica, CTL leaders

12:05 PM

Keynote address

Speaker TBA

12:20 PM

Fireside chat 1

Speaker TBA

12:40 PM

Recognition ceremony

First-time disclosures or licensed technologiesn – order TBA

12:50 PM

Fireside chat

Speaker TBA

1:10 PM

Recognition ceremony

First-time disclosures or licensed technologiesn – order TBA

1:20 PM

Game and networking

Interactive activity for all attendees

1:45 PM

Closing