Earning Criteria

• Must be an employee of IBM. The earner must be an inventor in one of the organizations adopting this badge. For a list of business units where this badge is available, please visit the Learn More/Additional Information link on this page.
• Contributions to the IBM Patent portfolio, have at least 3 patent filings – including 1 within the past 2 years.
• Applicants must provide evidence of at least 2 activities in patent mentoring and community work in the last 12 months. This can include: Mentoring new inventors who have ideas, but who are unfamiliar with the process; Helping educate inexperienced inventors in understanding the IP process and how to effectively document and submit inventions; Pro-actively arranging and leading patent mining sessions; Being a catalyst for innovation and invention.
• Actively contribute in the IP creation process. This includes: participation in Invention Development Teams (IDTs); identification of technology areas and projects that are strategic for IBM’s patent portfolio; serve as a resource for IP Law in areas of patent prosecution & patent licensing.
• At least 2 references, including one from a sponsor and one from a mentee.