In the industry of technology transfer, diverse perspectives from around the world not only help us understand how things work in other countries but also provide fresh ideas for our own organizations. Joining us today is Rodrigo del Canto, Director of Technology Transfer at iCono UDD in Santiago, Chile. Rodrigo del Canto is a seasoned professional in technology transfer and innovation, holding key roles at iCono UDD. With a background in law and public policy, Rodrigo extensively contributes to...
Apr 17, 2024•14 min
The influence of Washington D.C. corridor issues on tech transfer (technology transfer) operations significantly affects tech transfer professionals in several key ways. From navigating the regulatory environments of compliance and IP to funding, to ethical considerations, there’s a lot to unpack when it comes to translating policy into practice. I’m excited to talk with Dr. Sheila Kadura as she shares her wealth of knowledge and experience on tech transfer and regulatory policy. Dr. Sheila Kadu...
Apr 10, 2024•23 min
One of our goals at AUTM is to foster greater inclusion in innovation. We are committed to providing guidance to our members and the wider technology transfer community on important global issues. This episode is about one of the newest EDI guides, the Nine Points to Consider for Fostering Greater Inclusion in Innovation. I’m excited to discuss these new guidelines with Almesha Campbell, Jennifer Gottwald, and Jane Muir. Almesha Campbell and Jennifer Gottwald are members of the AUTM Women Invent...
Apr 03, 2024•43 min
In the world of technology transfer, listening to diverse perspectives from across the globe isn't merely about understanding alternative methodologies; it's fundamentally about unlocking fresh ideas that can be integrated into our own organizations. Today, I have the pleasure of speaking with Yoichi Oshima, the Vice President for Government and Industry Relations at Tokyo Tech. With a background in electronics engineering, Yoichi possesses extensive experience in both patent examination and sem...
Mar 27, 2024•22 min
Academia plays a crucial role in societal progress, supported by significant public funds allocated to higher education and research institutions. However, this support is compromised by pervasive sexism within academia, leading to the loss of talented women and impeding scientific advancement. Today, we're addressing a critical issue afflicting academia: sexism and its detrimental effects on science and public funding. Our discussion is inspired by the paper "Sexism In Academia Is Bad For Scien...
Mar 20, 2024•42 min
Women's History Month celebrates the vital contributions of women throughout history and into the present day, marking a period where we honor their achievements and resilience across a multitude of fields, notably in areas like technology transfer and innovation. Women have always been at the heart of driving change, with their innovative inventions, pioneering research, and entrepreneurial zeal. Despite the hurdles of systemic barriers and gender biases, their perseverance has significantly im...
Mar 13, 2024•54 min
I’m excited to introduce Leah Speser, a seasoned expert in technology transfer and commercialization, currently serving as the Senior Consultant for Knowledge Transfer & Commercialization at the Research and Innovation Foundation of the Republic of Cyprus. Leah's experience and expertise in the world of tech transfer are extensive. She has an impressive career that spans academia, industry, and international development. Today, we’re discussing early-stage technology acquisition opportunitie...
Mar 06, 2024•57 min
Creating positive change in the world of emerging technology requires more than just innovative ideas. It demands a commitment to fostering an environment where everyone, regardless of their background, has the opportunity to contribute and thrive. This means implementing intentional practices, programs, and initiatives aimed at promoting inclusive innovation. By ensuring access for women, people of color, indigenous peoples, individuals with disabilities, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and ot...
Feb 28, 2024•43 min
The entrepreneurial landscape in the United States is rich with talent and innovation, evidenced by the nearly 3.6 million Black-owned businesses, as reported by the U.S. Census Bureau. These enterprises, which employ around 1.3 million individuals across 4% of these businesses, are a vibrant testament to the resilience, inventiveness, and entrepreneurial drive within Black communities nationwide. Yet, despite their notable impact, Black entrepreneurs face persistent challenges, including limite...
Feb 21, 2024•32 min
As February unfolds, we're thrilled to kick off a special series in celebration of Black History Month, a time to honor the significant contributions and achievements of African Americans throughout history. Today, we're excited to chat with James Howard, the Executive Director of the Black Inventors Hall of Fame (BIHOF). James Howard wears many hats: he is a college professor, design historian, entrepreneur, industrial designer, inventor, and restaurateur. He brings more than 25 years of teachi...
Feb 14, 2024•38 min
We have some interesting insights to share from "Diagnosing COVID-19: A Perspective from U.S. Patenting Activity," a report by the US Patent and Trademark Office's Chief Economist, Andrew Toole, and Senior Research Economist, Nicholas A. Pairolero. Dr. Andrew Toole is the Chief Economist at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and also serves as a Research Associate at the Centre for European Economic Research (ZEW). He has experience spanning the private sector, academia, and government...
Feb 07, 2024•40 min
Have you ever wondered why some voices are less heard in the world of innovation? In this episode, we're diving into a critical topic within the realm of U.S. innovation – the existing inequity in patent inventorship. This issue has led to a significant "innovator-inventor" gap, marked by the underrepresentation of women among patent inventors and the obstacles encountered by inventors from low-income backgrounds. I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to shed light on this important subject and a...
Jan 31, 2024•35 min
As the clock ticks towards the closure of the 60-day comment period on Feb. 6, and NIST prepares to review and finalize guidance, there are still some crucial concerns regarding the Draft Interagency Guidance Framework for Considering the Exercise of March-In Rights, a tool created to evaluate when it might be appropriate to require licensing of a patent developed with federal funding. The Bayh-Dole Act, a key driver of public-private partnerships and innovation in the U.S., is at the heart of t...
Jan 29, 2024•23 min
Welcome to a special episode as we gear up for the 2024 AUTM Annual Meeting in San Diego. This episode offers an exciting sneak peek at what awaits attendees this year. I am joined by Almesha Campbell, AUTM Board Chair and Assistant Vice President for Research and Economic Development at Jackson State University. We are thrilled about going to San Diego and participating in this event. Lisa and Almesha discuss the widespread excitement about the meeting. International members will be recognized,...
Jan 24, 2024•28 min
There's more to commercialization than just the impact of technology being transferred. This episode focuses on social innovation in technology and the University of Kentucky's Office of Technology Commercialization's unique approach. It's not just about developing, but also managing entrepreneurship programs with a focus on inclusive innovation. This ensures fair access to training for underrepresented innovators in Kentucky. I'm joined by Serenity Wright, the Associate Director of Social Innov...
Jan 17, 2024•49 min
The esteemed Mike Waring, AUTM’s Advocacy and Alliances Coordinator, is back to continue our conversation about national advocacy and federal government relations. Last week, Mike shared strategies for state and local tech transfer. Advocacy is ultimately about relationships. Your campus federal relations team is the one that creates the relationship between your campus and Congress, so it's crucial to have a good relationship with them. You want them to know who you are and what your issues are...
Jan 10, 2024•29 min
The success of tech transfer efforts begins with advocacy. Tech transfer is not just an abstract idea. It creates real companies and real jobs. Getting policy makers to understand tech transfer will push the whole profession in a positive way. Mike Waring, AUTM Advocacy and Alliances Coordinator, is here to talk about advocacy at the local, state, and national level. In this two-part episode, we begin with advocacy at the state and local level. Mike talks about the importance of tapping into rel...
Jan 03, 2024•23 min
Over the last two decades, utility patent applications involving AI have seen an increase of 150%. In the words of Kathi Vidal, “AI is going to be ubiquitous.” From healthcare to climate science, no industry will be left unaffected by it in some way or another, which is why the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), under Kathi’s leadership, has made it a top priority. In this episode, Kathi explains how she and her team at the USPTO are adapting to the growing influence of AI, inclu...
Dec 20, 2023•25 min
If you’re a technology transfer professional, prompt engineering is going to transform your life. In brief, prompt engineering is a set of plain language inputs that you can impart on a generative AI tool (like ChatGPT) to acquire a particular output. As an example of how ChatGPT can enhance the efficiency of your processes when you get to grips with prompt engineering, John Keary is currently able to review a whole year of license agreements in just 3 days! John is the Compliance Manager at New...
Dec 13, 2023•34 min
Generative AI is opening up a whole new world that all of us, at some point, are going to need to learn to navigate. From drafting appeal letters to managing heart disease and finding natural disaster survivors, the limits to what generative AI is likely to be able to help humans do (or do on its own) in the near future are seemingly non-existent. In this episode, Jonathan Gortat, Director of Licensing and Strategic Alliance at Stanford University’s Office of Technology Licensing, joins us to sh...
Dec 06, 2023•33 min
If you’re worrying about the impact that AI tools could have on your job as a technology transfer professional, stop! In this episode, we are joined by Vice President of Technology Opportunities and Ventures at New York University, Marc Sedam, who is here to share why AI is one of the best things to happen to the field of technology transfer. Six months ago, Marc and his team began harnessing the power of AI in their day-to-day activities. Marc predicts that in 2-years time, everything that is d...
Nov 29, 2023•40 min
“Together we can foster a future where indigenous voices are heard, cultures are preserved, and the artists of these communities are recognized and celebrated.” As a proud member of the Madawaska Maliseet First Nation, Amanda Bernard is on a mission to celebrate, support, and empower indigenous artists and entrepreneurs and in doing so, create a more just and culturally rich world. In this episode, Amanda joins us to share what her journey of creating a virtual marketplace for indigenous creativ...
Nov 15, 2023•16 min
As an attorney in the Office of Policy and International Affairs at the USPTO and the USPTO’s Tribal Affairs Liaison, Susan Anthony has committed most of her career to protecting indigenous knowledge and empowering indigenous communities. In this episode, Susan shares where her passion for helping indigenous communities originated, what she loves most about her work, and some of the most memorable moments of her time spent addressing indigenous IP and cultural heritage issues. There are 574 fede...
Nov 08, 2023•35 min
Indigenous Peoples' Month, celebrated throughout November in the U.S., is a time to celebrate and honor the rich cultures, histories, and contributions of Indigenous communities. In the first episode of our Indigenous People Celebration series, we’re joined by Jael Whitney, an Officer for MIT Solve’s Indigenous Communities Program with a background in business development, marketing, and economics. Tune in today to learn how Jael and her colleagues at MIT Solve are helping indigenous communities...
Nov 01, 2023•15 min
“Inclusive innovation is a catalyst for justice, for equity, for economic opportunity.” In the United States, IP-intensive industries account for more than 40% of opportunities and provide approximately 63 million jobs. However, in terms of diversity, equity, and inclusion these industries are still far behind where they should be. In this episode, we are joined by the founders of Invent Together, an alliance of universities, nonprofits, companies, and stakeholders on a mission to ensure that ev...
Oct 25, 2023•26 min
Carlos Baez-Pagan and his team at the Puerto Rico Science, Technology & Research Trust are working towards the creation of a globally recognized innovation hub. In this episode, Carlos, the Trust’s Associate Director, shares what their journey over the past (almost) 20 years has entailed. Carlos has a background in biochemistry and business administration, has been an AUTM member since 2017, is co-chair of the Better World Project, and is one of the pioneers of technology transfer in his hom...
Oct 18, 2023•41 min
Ovarian cancer is one of the biggest killers, one of the hardest to diagnose, and the second most expensive to treat. Today’s guest is the cofounder of AOA Dx, a company that is transforming ovarian cancer detection and diagnosis. Oriana Papin-Zoghbi is a Venezuelan-born entrepreneur who grew up in the Middle East and attended school in Europe before moving to the United States. In this episode, she shares how she serendipitously became involved in the women’s health space before the word femtec...
Oct 11, 2023•26 min
Through his company, Easymetering, Byron Rojas is disrupting the energy sector by simultaneously optimizing consumption and reducing carbon emissions. In this episode, the second in our Hispanic Heritage Month series, he joins us to share the fascinating journey that has brought him to this point! Byron is an electronic engineering graduate from Ecuador who has pioneered cutting-edge innovations in the fields of data transmission, cellular network infrastructure, and smart metering technology. T...
Oct 04, 2023•41 min
“We need to make sure that we have everyone at the table so that everyone is being fed.” In this episode, the first of our Hispanic Heritage Month series, Dr. Jose Morey joins us to share how including diverse perspectives in technological development is the key to breaking down systemic inequality. Jose, formerly an advisor to NASA, Forbes, and MIT, is the founder of Ad Astra Media and the LISTA National Chair at TechLatino. His diverse background, Hispanic heritage, and drive to create economi...
Sep 27, 2023•23 min
AUTM’s Better World Project (BWP) is a platform that showcases impactful inventions, from Honeycrisp apples to life-changing medical devices, with the aim of highlighting the transformative power of academic research when it is put into practice. Ann Amidzich has a background in criminal justice and is currently a Co-Chair of the Better World Project Committee. In this episode, she shares examples of the inventions that the BWP has showcased, how AUTM assists applicants through the process, how ...
Sep 20, 2023•18 min
