Honoring the Best in Innovation and Innovators

The Edison Awards, celebrating 30 years of honoring the best in innovation and excellence in the development of new products and services, were held on April 20, 2017 in New York City.

Being recognized with an Edison Award has become one of the highest accolades a company can receive in the name of innovation and business. The awards are named after Thomas Alva Edison (1847-1931) whose inventions, new product development methods and innovative achievements literally changed the world, garnered him 1,093 U.S. patents, and made him a household name around the world.

The ballot of nominees for the Edison Awards™ was judged by a panel of more than 3,000 leading business executives including past award winners, academics and leaders in the fields of product development, design, engineering, science and medical.

Meet the Innovators Forum & Innovators' Showcase

The full-day Meet the Innovators Forum included presentations and panel discussions involving a wide spectrum of innovators and experts. The program was held at the New York Academy of Sciences, located on the 40th floor of 7 World Trade Center in lower Manhattan. The Innovators' Showcase, held in conjunction with the Forum, gave guests a hands-on look at nominated products between sessions. Throughout the day, participants networked and visited with Edison Award finalists who displayed their nominated products and services and shared their experiences. John Hockenberry, host of NPR's The Takeaway moderated the Forum.

Edison Awards Ceremony & Gala Dinner

The 2017 Winners of the Gold, Silver, and Bronze Edison Awards were announced during the evening's Gala, held at the elegant Capitale. Among the evening’s many highlights were the presentations of the prestigious Edison Achievement Award to Astro Teller, Captain of Moonshots of X, and Jeff Immelt, Chairman and CEO of General Electric. The award honors innovation leaders and business executives who have made a significant and lasting contribution to innovation throughout their careers. Comedian Ryan Hamilton was the evening's emcee.