Ali Emadi, Canada Excellence Research Chair in Hybrid Powertrain at McMaster University, has been named a fellow of the United States’ National Academy of Inventors (NAI). This distinction is awarded to academic inventors and innovators for creating or enabling outstanding inventions that have made a tangible impact on quality of life, economic development and the welfare of society.
A professor of electrical and computer engineering and mechanical engineering, Emadi is internationally recognized for his expertise in electric vehicles and smart mobility. He and his world-class team are focused on developing technologies for the next generation of smart energy systems and self-driving electric vehicles.
Emadi holds 40 US patents and patents pending, and his corporate-sponsored projects have received various recognitions, including the 2014 Chrysler Innovation Award. He is also the founder of several university spin-off companies, including Hybrid Electric Vehicle Technologies, Inc. and Enedym, Inc.
“This prestigious recognition means a lot to me because it values not only inventions and technology transfer from academia to industry, but also mentoring students and translating inventions to benefit society,” said Emadi. “I am humbled to receive this great honour.”
The 2016 fellows will be inducted on April 6, 2017, as part of the Sixth Annual Conference of the National Academy of Inventors in Boston, Massachusetts. With the election of the 2016 class, there are now 757 NAI fellows, representing 229 research universities and governmental and not-for-profit research institutes.