In January 2021, IBM announced that scientists and researchers at the technology received 9,130 U.S. patents in 2020, marking 28 consecutive years of IBM patent leadership. IBM led the industry in the number of artificial intelligence (AI), cloud, quantum computing, and security-related patents granted.
Since 1920, IBM has received more than 150,000 U.S. patents and played a crucial role in innovations ranging from magnetic storage to laser eye surgery.
Currently, IBM leads the industry in the number of AI patents (2,300), cloud and hybrid cloud technologies (3,000 patents), and security-related patents (more than 1,400).
Fewer than 20 percent of all U.S. patents today list a woman as an inventor.
In 2008, IBM Master Inventor Irene Hernandez Roberts was honored with the Women of Color Technologist of the Year award. During her trailblazing career, she earned more than fifty IBM software patents before retiring as a program director in the Software Group for Independent Software Vendors and Developer Relations.
In that position, she led a global team of 150 information technology (IT) architects and specialists working across 40 IBM Innovation Centers. The IT team worked closely with vendors to help them integrate IBM products and technologies into their business solutions.
Hernandez Roberts traveled to locations such as Turkey, India, China, Ireland, Spain, Brazil, and Mexico, to influence the local community on innovative market planning, programs, processes, and tooling.
She was also responsible for IBM’s Virtual Innovation Center —the entry point for technical resources that help partners develop and enable apps.
Hernandez Roberts provided mentoring within IBM and mentored high school students through the company's Cascade Mentoring program. She was also active in integrating the IBM Academic Initiative program through the Computing Alliance for Hispanic Serving Institutions and the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU).
Hernandez Roberts is a member of the advisory committee for Latinas in Computing and a lifetime member of the Society of Professional Engineers (SHPE). She received her Bachelor’s in Computer Science from the University of Texas at Austin in 1981.
Nominate an outstanding scientist or researcher here.
