AutoEM Receives Licensing Award

Photo by Kannan Krishnaswami

We are thrilled to announce that our Autonomous Electron Microscope (AutoEM) platform has been recognized with a prestigious "Deal of Distinction" Award from the Licensing Executives Society (LES). This award celebrates the successful licensing of groundbreaking technologies that have the potential to transform industries.

AutoEM is a revolutionary platform that combines artificial intelligence (AI) with advanced electron microscopy to accelerate scientific discovery. By automating complex and time-consuming tasks, AutoEM is enabling transformative discoveries in clean energy, quantum computing, medicine, and manufacturing.

This achievement is a testament to the power of collaboration and the dedication of the team at PNNL, including Jennifer Lee and Kannan Krishnaswami from our commercialization office. We are also deeply grateful for our partnership with JEOL-IDES, whose expertise in electron microscopy was instrumental in bringing AutoEM to life.

How did this partnership come about?

Our partnership with JEOL arose from a simple idea: what if we combined PNNL's expertise in using powerful microscopes with JEOL's talent for building them?  We've always been fascinated by the tiny details hidden within materials – whether it's for cleaner energy, faster computers, or stronger alloys.  This curiosity led us to JEOL and the commissioning of an incredible new GrandARM microscope. As we worked together, we realized that our cutting-edge AI could make their microscopes even more powerful. JEOL was just as excited about this possibility as we were. They gave us the freedom to experiment and helped us find innovative ways to speed up our research.

How did we adapt AutoEM to JEOL's microscopy technology?

Think of AutoEM as having a brilliant "brain" that can learn and make decisions on its own. This brain uses AI to guide the microscope. But, like any brain, it needs a "body" to interact with the world. That's where JEOL's microscope comes in. We worked closely with JEOL to create a special language that allows AutoEM's brain to communicate with the microscope's hardware. This allows for incredibly precise control and feedback, opening the door to amazing new experiments that were never possible before.

We are incredibly proud of this achievement and excited to continue pushing the boundaries of what's possible with AutoEM. This technology has the potential to revolutionize materials science and accelerate the pace of innovation across a wide range of industries.

About the LES "Deal of Distinction" Award

The LES "Deal of Distinction" Award recognizes outstanding licensing achievements that have made a significant impact on the commercialization of technology. The award is given to deals that demonstrate innovation, creativity, and a commitment to excellence.

Learn more about the Licensing Executives Society Meeting here.