What drives a master inventor? If it’s IBM’s John Werner, it’s both voracious curiosity and a passion for solving real-world problems. These dual drives have resulted in more than 270 patents filed and 139 issued—and in Werner’s being named an IBM Master Inventor in 2018.
Today, Werner is a Senior Electromagnetic Compatibility and Product Safety Designer Engineer at IBM, where he specializes in compliance testing and thrives in what he calls the company’s “ecosystem of brilliant minds.”
He is also one of Computing’s Top 30 Early Career Professionals for 2024. In the following Q&A, Werner describes
The details of his patent development process and how he assesses the potential solutions he brainstorms after confronting an intractable problem
How he solved testing issues related to a common project challenge: late hardware delivery, which created scheduling bottlenecks in projects with fixed release dates
His advice for students interested in developing innovative technologies, which includes taking every opportunity to apply classroom learning to tangible problems
His key lessons learned so far, including that engineering is as much about adaptability and problem-solving as it is about technical expertise
What drives your passion for inventing, and how do you stay motivated to continuously innovate?
My passion for inventing stems from a deep curiosity and a drive to solve complex problems that have real-world impact. The ability to take an idea from concept to patent and see it contribute to technological advancements is incredibly rewarding. I’m especially motivated by the opportunity to work on cutting-edge technologies in areas like enterprise servers, quantum computing, and AI-driven automation.
One of the key factors that keeps me motivated is the collaborative environment at IBM. Innovation isn’t just an individual effort; it thrives in an ecosystem of brilliant minds. Engaging with engineers, designers, and researchers from diverse disciplines helps fuel new ideas and push the boundaries of what’s possible.
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