Joint Seminar by A*STAR Exploit Technologies and Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology

Title: Boston's Entrepreneurial Ecosystem and Technology Licensing at MIT

Speaker: Dr. Marc Rioult, Technology Licensing Officer, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA

Date: Tuesday, April 5, 2011 • 11:00 am to 12:00 pm

Venue: Creation Theatrette, Level 4 • The Matrix @ Biopolis, 30 Biopolis Street

This seminar is free. Please RSVP if you are attending lunch.

Jointly brought to you by the Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology and Exploit Technologies Pte Ltd.

 

ABSTRACT

Technology transfer and entrepreneurship at Massachusetts Institute of Technology's (MIT) and the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Boston have been closely linked for the last 25 years. While entrepreneurship at MIT has developed over a long time, it has done so relatively easily, perhaps because its spirit reflects MIT's culture of experimenting and thereby accepting risk and possible failure as a way to improve and learn. The vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem and its development are fueled by many research institutions, a strong and diverse investor community, and a multitude of companies in various developmental stages and in a broad range of industries. It has resulted, among other, in the creation of a small region of only a few square miles in Cambridge, near MIT, that has the highest density of startups anywhere in the world. Certainly, the ascent of this ecosystem has profoundly influenced MIT's culture, but the more relevant question for this audience may be how have MIT's licensing practices and culture influenced and contributed to this ecosystem? Specifically, how has MIT adapted its licensing practices to entrepreneurs, their needs, and the economics of startups? How do these practices compare to licenses to large companies? More broadly, what does MIT offer to entrepreneurs and startups? Which aspects are transferable to other academic institutions and their technology transfer practices, and to surrounding emerging entrepreneurial ecosystems?

 

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Dr. Marc Rioult is a Technology Licensing Officer at MIT. He has been involved in technology acquisition and commercialization, in the creation of startups, and in the development of technologies and technology-based companies for over ten years. While working mainly in the life and medical sciences, he has also experience in nanotechnologies, electronics, software, chemicals, microfluidics, and consumer products. Before joining MIT, he worked consecutively for two consulting firms engaged in IP and technology transactions for enterprises ranging from global Fortune 500 clients to startups. Prior to this, he co-managed a software startup for two years after having left academic research in neuroscience. Dr. Rioult has a PhD in neuroscience and an MS in biology and biomedical engineering from the Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich, and an MBA from the executive MBA program at Boston University. He has published and lectured internationally on scientific and business topics and has coorganized two international scientific symposiums.

 

 

CHEMfest 2010 is organized by A*STAR Chemistry Club with the notion of a celebration of chemistry in A*STAR.

Chairman Lim Chuan Poh connected with an audience of hundreds each time he took the stage for the opening of Chemistry @ Neuros.

As per tradition of most scientific gatherings, there was an exhibition of posters opened to the public.

1. Catalysis and Green Chemistry

Work on carbon capture was showcased through the poster titled - Carbon dioxide to Methanol with Silanes catalysed by N-heterocyclic Carbenes.

2. New Materials

One of the exhibits important for the research and development of organic photovaltic cells (OVC) was on low band gap polymers.

Poly Lactic Acid (PLA) – the material that faced difficulties with large scale commercialization due to low service temperature due to slow crystallization and brittleness, was also mentioned.

3. Process Chemistry

The scientists from the Kilo Lab in A*STAR Institute of Chemical and Engineering Sciences (ICES) were on-the-ground to explain about their capabilities. The unique kilo lab is the first publicly-funded scale-up facility in South East Asia built to enhance and attract collaborations within the research institutes, pharmaceutical and specialty chemicals ecosystem in Singapore.

Four themes (and illustrated posters) were to showcase many of ICES projects and collaborations.

4. Related Applications to Biomedical Sciences

 

• Thixotrophic nanocomposite gel for 3D cell culture. The gel can be used to give a dynamic environment to study cell behaviours;
• Glucose-sensing with reporter molecule in surface enhanced raman spectroscopy;
• Medicinal Chemistry approach toward dengue virus inhibitor.

 

The key strategy has been deployed successfully in the development of Boceprevir, which is currently in phase 3 clinical trials for treating HCV. The strategy is to design peptide-like protease inhibitor with reactive chemical group that competes with the natural peptide for the active site of the protease.

An example of commercialisation effort through Exploit Technologies, A*STAR commercialisation office, Commercialization-of-Technology (COT) gap funding scheme was showcased in the roadshow.

The Chemistry Club, housed under the A*STAR Joint Council Office (JCO), exists to champion young chemists and showcase the positive role they play in the chemistry society.

CHEMfest2010 truly delivers their promise of a wholesome chemistry experience!

 

This blog article is contributed by Wan Qing Leow, Rachel who is now working as an Industry Development Officer in Institute of Chemical and Engineering Sciences (ICES), A*STAR. Photographs courtesy of ICES.

 

Innovation & Enterprise Week (IEW) 2010, 28 – 30 September 2010

 

In the second year of its running, the annual IEW was held at Biopolis, home to Exploit Technologies, the commercialisation arm of A*STAR.

 

With similar tones and agenda as the previous year, the IEW showcased local technologies which have been taken up by companies. The event also saw notable and unifying themes by speakers involved in the technology transfer space, including Scientists, Business Founders, Engineers, Venture Capitalists, Mentors, Intellectual Property Practitioners and many others.

 

Perhaps, the anecdote for next year’s proposal should be filled with creativity to further impress the audience (and scientists).

 

Nonetheless, we presented IEW snapshots below.

 

 

 

1) Mr. Greg Horowitt, Co-founder and Director, Global Enterprise of Global CONNECT

 

 

 

 

2) Dr. John McCulloch, Senior Advisor, Life Sciences & Health Care, MaRS Discovery District

 

 

 

3) Mr. Tom Hockaday, Managing Director, Isis Innovation Ltd, the technology transfer company of University of Oxford

 

 

 

4) Mr. Alex Thien, Chief Executive Officer, AITBiotech Pte Ltd

 

 

 

5) Mr. Theodore Tan, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, SG Molecular Diagnostics

 

 

 

6) Dr. Brinda Wiita, Executive Director, Technology Innovation, Business Development, Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies

 

 

 

7) Traineeship in Technology Transfer Management (T3M) Graduation Ceremony

 The Graduation Ceremony saw the graduation of the first batch of Technology Transfer Specialists.

 

 

 

 

8) IEW 2010 Gala Dinner

The Gala Dinner was held in an atmospheric setting; representing the "who's who" (innovation network) of top entrepreneurs, start-up businesses, key people from the various corporate offices, and research institutes.

 

 

This blog article is contributed by Dr. Erwin Chan. Erwin is now working in Singapore Management University (SMU). He overlooks the intellectual property portfolio creation and innovation development.