Most Prolific Inventor in Each State and DC

11. Connecticut | Jay S Walker

Jay Walker is one of America’s best-known business inventors and entrepreneurs. He has founded multiple successful start-up companies across various industries that today serve tens of millions of customers each, the most recognizable being Priceline and Synapse Group. He currently serves as Chairman & CEO of ApiJect Systems Corp. and its subsidiary RAPID USA, Co-Founder and Chairman of Upside Travel, and Curator of TEDMED, amongst additional roles at other entities.

Many respected national publications have acknowledged Jay Walker for his leadership in business innovation. Twice named as one of the “50 most influential business leaders in the digital age” by the editors of TIME magazine, he was selected by Businessweek as one of its 25 Internet pioneers “most responsible for changing the competitive landscape of almost every industry in the world.”

10. Utah | David R Hall

David R. Hall is the Chairman of Hall Labs, a research and development company based in Provo, Utah. Hall Labs, originally founded by his father, H. Tracy Hall, the inventor of synthetic diamonds, focuses on solving global challenges in sustainability, healthcare, and personal transportation. David Hall has been instrumental in leading Hall Labs, building a diverse portfolio of innovations across various industries.

David has founded or led numerous companies, including Hall Venture Partners, Novatek, NovaDrill, IntelliServ, and Medic.life. With a background in mechanical engineering (Master’s degree from Brigham Young University) an MBA from Rider University, and honorary doctorate from Weber State University (2016). His leadership extends to venture investments in emerging technologies, focusing on innovations that have the potential to address global challenges

9. Massachusetts | Michael J Sullivan

Mike Sullivan is the Senior Vice President of Golf Ball Research & Development at Acushnet Company, the parent company of Titleist, a leader in golf ball technology. Sullivan oversees the R&D team responsible for developing Titleist’s iconic golf balls, including the Pro V1 and Pro V1x, which are known for their superior performance and innovation in the industry. His team consists of over 75 professionals, including chemists, physicists, and engineers, who collaborate to create new materials, aerodynamic designs, and manufacturing processes.

Sullivan played a crucial role during the COVID-19 pandemic when Acushnet shifted part of its production to create Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), demonstrating his leadership beyond golf ball development​

8. Idaho | Gurtej S Sandhu

Gurtej Sandhu is Principal Fellow and Vice President at Micron Technology. In his current role, he is responsible for Micron’s end-to-end (Si-to-Package) R&D technology roadmaps. The scope includes driving cross-functional alignment across various departments and business units to proactively identify technology gaps, and managing the engineering organization to resource and execute on developing innovative technology solutions for future memory scaling.

Dr. Sandhu’s responsibilities include leading several internal project teams worldwide and managing interactions with research consortia around the world.

7. Illinois | Donald E Weder

Donald E. Weder is an accomplished American inventor and businessman, renowned for his extensive contributions to the floriculture industry. Weder has been a leader in developing innovations related to flower packaging and decorative coverings. His inventions primarily focus on methods for wrapping floral groupings, flower pot covers, and shipping solutions, many of which are assigned to Southpac Trust International, Inc., a company involved in intellectual property management.

One of Weder’s notable contributions is the design of self-erecting containers and floral pot covers, which have been widely used in the floristry business. These innovations have streamlined packaging processes, enhancing the functionality and aesthetic appeal of floral arrangements.

6. Virginia | Esmael Hejazi Dinan

Esmael Hejazi Dinan is the founder and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Ofinno, a research and development lab based in Reston, Virginia. Established in 2011, Ofinno specializes in creating patented technologies in areas such as 5G wireless networking, next-generation Wi-Fi, and video compression. Dinan is an experienced innovator with more than 20 years of R&D experience, having worked with leading tech firms like WorldCom, Bechtel Communications, Sprint, and Clearwire before founding Ofinno.

Under his leadership, Ofinno has sold over 500 patents to major technology companies including Samsung, Xiaomi, Honda, and Huawei.

Dinan’s background in electrical engineering, which includes a PhD from George Mason University, has positioned him as a key innovator in modern wireless communication standards like LTE-Advanced, 5G New Radio, and Evolved Packet Core

5. New Jersey | Junyi Li

Junyi Li is the Vice President of Engineering at Qualcomm and a Qualcomm Fellow, recognized for his significant contributions to wireless communications technology. He is also an IEEE Fellow, a prestigious recognition for his work in advancing engineering and technology. Li co-founded Flarion Technologies, a company that pioneered Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access (OFDMA), a key technology used in 4G and 5G networks.

OFDMA has revolutionized wireless communication by allowing multiple users to transmit data simultaneously over the same frequency band, significantly improving efficiency and capacity. Li’s innovations in this area have been instrumental in shaping modern wireless standards. At Qualcomm, he continues to lead efforts in wireless communication research, contributing to both 5G advancements and the development of future technologies like 6G.

4. California | Tao Luo

Dr. Luo is the third most prolific inventor in the world.

Tao is a Senior Director of Engineering at Qualcomm, where he has made significant contributions to the development of 5G technology, particularly in millimeter-wave (mmWave) systems. Since joining Qualcomm in 2004, Luo has been involved in the research, development, and standardization of 3G, 4G, and 5G technologies. He currently leads Qualcomm’s wireless research and development efforts, focusing on system design, analysis, and prototyping for 5G and the emerging 6G technology.

Luo’s work has been instrumental in optimizing how smartphones connect to cell towers, developing techniques that evolved from 4G to improve the efficiency and performance of 5G networks.

3. Ohio | Frederick E Shelton, IV

Frederick Shelton IV, the most prolific and financially successful inventor ever, is a Johnson & Johnson medical device innovator, where he has been a key figure in the development of advanced surgical tools and medical devices.

His inventions have been instrumental in the development of powered surgical staplers, particularly the Ethicon Echelon™ series, which are widely used in laparoscopic surgeries. These tools are designed to improve the precision and safety of surgical procedures by allowing surgeons to apply staples quickly and effectively, reducing recovery times for patients.

Shelton’s innovations also extend to devices that use electroactive polymers for articulation in surgical instruments, enabling greater control and flexibility during surgeries.

2. Washington | Lowell L Wood, Jr

Lowell L. Wood, Jr. is a highly prolific American inventor and scientist, known for his work in various scientific and technological domains. Wood has an impressive record, having been involved in numerous inventions.

A physicist by training, Wood’s career spans decades of contributions to government and private sector projects, including work for the U.S. Department of Energy and the military. He has worked on diverse projects, from missile defense systems to advanced energy solutions. His involvement with The Invention Science Fund I LLC reflects his continued commitment to driving forward technological innovation in fields such as healthcare, environmental solutions, and energy

1. New York | Kangguo Cheng

Kangguo Cheng is a Senior Technical Staff Member and Master Inventor at IBM, known for his prolific contributions to the field of semiconductor technology.

As an influential figure in the field, Cheng has been instrumental in developing new techniques that improve semiconductor performance, efficiency, and scalability. His patents cover a wide range of innovations in semiconductor manufacturing, including transistor structures, integration processes, and novel material applications.

Cheng has received numerous accolades for his work, including being listed among the top inventors globally. His contributions extend beyond innovation, as he is also a mentor to younger engineers and inventors at IBM, fostering the next generation of technological advancements​