This Award recognizes the potential impact of superconductivity on the fields of electrical engineering, physics, medicine and energy by rewarding young entrepreneurs who have established a successful business or had the primary responsibility within a commercial organization to commercialize a device or service based on a property of superconductivity. The award will recognize young entrepreneurs while they are still growing their businesses to encourage others to follow their path.

Historical Background:

This award is named for Mr. Carl H. Rosner, whose career is an excellent example of a successful entrepreneur in the commercialization of superconductivity.   Early in his professional career, Mr. Rosner left the research department of a large industrial company to start a small company, Intermagnetics General Corporation (IGC), which focused on the design and manufacturing of superconducting magnets, mostly for the scientific research community. Within five years, the company was viable and self-sustaining.  Over the next thirty years, Mr. Rosner grew IGC into a publicly-owned company with annual revenue in excess of 300 million dollars. For his contributions to the field of applied superconductivity, in general, and for the commercialization of superconducting systems, in particular, Mr. Rosner was one of the initial recipients of the IEEE Council on Superconductivity Max Swerdlow Award for Sustained Service to the Applied Superconductivity Community.

Prize:
The Award shall consist of the following: (1) a medallion fabricated from niobium, at least six centimeters in diameter and suitably engraved; (2) a plaque suitably inscribed; and, (3) an honorarium of U.S. $2,500.
Presentation:
This Award will be presented not more than once per calendar year at a suitable international conference on applied superconductivity that is associated with the IEEE Council on Superconductivity, such as the Applied Superconductivity Conference, or at a time and place designated by the President of the IEEE Council on Superconductivity.
Eligibility:
The award will generally be made to an individual, independent of nationality, country of residence, race, gender, or membership in IEEE, who, in early or mid-career, started a new company or who joined an existing small business and assumed principal responsibility for the development and eventual commercialization (either in the commercial marketplace, or to the military or scientific communities) of a new and innovative superconducting product or service. At the time of the Award, the recipient would have exercised leadership over his/her company or business activity for a period of time of (approximately) five years and the company or business activity appears to have become a sustaining entity and, has developed or, is deemed to be on the path toward developing a potential commercial product. An individual may receive the IEEE Council on Superconductivity Carl H. Rosner Entrepreneurship Award only one time.
Nomination Details:

The nomination procedure for this award is available here.​

​​​​​​For further information on the Rosner Award, contact:

Joseph Minervini
Chair, Technical & Service Awards Committee
IEEE Council on Superconductivity
[email protected]

or

Dr. Robert L. Fagaly
3121 Madera Court
Carlsbad, CA 92009-7524
Email

Award Recipients

Gianni Grasso Rosner 2018

Gianni Grasso

2018 Recipient of The IEEE Council on Superconductivity Carl H. Rosner Entrepreneurship Award
For demonstrating outstanding entrepreneurship skills in the field of applied superconductivity, in particular:

founder of Columbus Superconductors, a commercially successful company that produces MgB2 superconducting wire;
led development and made critical technical contributions to ex-situ processed MgB2 wires; and
led conductor manufacturing in a commercial environment. Under Dr. Grasso’s leadership, Columbus achieved high-quality, low variability, competitive costs in long lengths.
President Bruce Strauss and Awards Chair Joe Minervini with Gianni Grasso at ASC 2018

Danko van der Laan

2016 Recipient of The IEEE Council on Superconductivity Carl H. Rosner Entrepreneurship Award
For demonstrating outstanding entrepreneurship skills in the field of applied superconductivity, in particular,
• for founding Advanced Conductor Technologies LLC with the goal of commercializing high-temperature superconducting CORC® cables,
• for the development of innovative HTS CORC® cables for high field magnets and high current power transmission systems, and,
• for transferring these technological advances to the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Navy

Christopher M. Rey

2014 Recipient of The IEEE Council on Superconductivity Carl H. Rosner Entrepreneurship Award
For demonstrating outstanding entrepreneurship skills in the field of applied superconductivity, in particular,
• for founding Tai-Tang Research Co. which became Energy-2-Power (E2P) with the goal of commercializing HTS products including: magnets, current leads, cables, and power equipment, and,
• for the development of innovative HTS degaussing and cryogenic cable connector technologies which were successfully transitioned to US Navy surface combatant ships.

Stuart J. Berkowitz

2012 Recipient of The IEEE Council on Superconductivity Carl H. Rosner Entrepreneurship Award
For demonstrating outstanding entrepreneurship skills in the field of applied superconductivity, in particular:
• for founding Out of the Fog Research, LLC, with the goal of commercializing cryogenic RF technology,
• for the development of innovative superconducting RF technology and the successful at-sea testing of HTS tunable filters, and,
• for transitioning these technological advances into US defense systems.

Terry L. Grimm

2010 Recipient of The IEEE Council on Superconductivity Carl H. Rosner Entrepreneurship Award
For demonstrating outstanding entrepreneurship skills in the field of applied superconductivity, in particular,
• for the founding of Niowave, Inc. and the commercialization of superconducting linear accelerators and electron injectors
• for the development of innovative superconducting niobium structures and manufacturing techniques, and,
• for transferring these technological advances to the Department of Energy and to defense, homeland security, medical and industrial applications