Workshop: Semiconductor Technology Translation & Hard-Tech Startups
Identifying challenges and opportunities for translating ideas from academic labs to industry and into the market.
U.S. universities are hotbeds of innovative technologies and new knowledge. Yet a growing gap has developed between nascent advanced hard-technology development (in academia and university-rooted startups) and technology concept commercialization (in established microelectronics and semiconductor industries). This gap impedes the translation of disruptive hard-tech from the lab to the market, leading to national calls for action, such as those spelled out in the CHIPS Act (National Semiconductor Technology Center, National Network for Microelectronics R&D, National Advanced Packaging Manufacturing Program and others) or the Endless Frontiers Act.
This workshop will survey the current landscape for startup support and tech translation to identify challenges and opportunities to improve the national ecosystem for launching and sustaining hard-tech startups, as part of a collaborative effort between industry and academia to advance the resurgence of U.S. leadership in semiconductors and microelectronics.
DETAILS
February 15, 2022
Full-day program
Online only, via Zoom webinar
Free and open to the public.
Register today: tinyurl.com/techtranslationworkshop
Co-organized by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and the State University of New York.
AGENDA
MORNING OPENING REMARKS
10:00 AM ET
Martin Schmidt, MIT Provost; President-Elect, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
SESSION 1: INNOVATION ECOSYSTEMS
10:05 AM – 11:20 AM ET
What contributes to a thriving innovation ecosystem—and how do you build one for hard-tech? Featuring speakers from established and emerging ecosystems, as well as regions seeking to expand support for hard-tech entrepreneurship, this session will highlight U.S. regional differences and suggest actions that could elevate new entrepreneurial regions.
David Broecker, Chief Innovation and Collaboration Officer, Purdue Research Foundation
Vladimir Bulovic, MIT.nano Director; Fariborz Maseeh (1990) Chair in Emerging Technology (workshop organizer; moderator)
Bob Metcalfe, Professor Emeritus of Innovation and Entrepreneurship and Murchison Fellow of Free Enterprise, Cockrell School of Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin
Fiona Murray, Co-Director, MIT Innovation Initiative; William Porter (1967) Professor of Entrepreneurship & Associate Dean of Innovation and Inclusion, MIT
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SESSION 2: STAKEHOLDER PERSPECTIVES
Startups are the key link in the chain to launch new hard-tech ideas. Ventures that survive and scale, however, require significant support from a diverse group of stakeholders with along the way. Presented in two parts, this session will explore roles, contributions, and perspectives of industry and venture capital (part 1), and academia and government (part 2). The critical theme of intellectual property management among the different stakeholders will be highlighted.
PART 1: PERSPECTIVES FROM INDUSTRY & VENTURE CAPITAL
11:20 AM – 12:30 PM ET
Sean Doyle, Managing Director, Intel Capital
Sam Fuller, Chief Technology Officer Emeritus and Distinguished Scientist, Analog Devices, Inc
Anand Kamannavar, Global Head, Applied Ventures
Omkaram Nalamasu, Senior Vice President and CTO, Applied Materials
Nick Querques, Director of New Ventures, SUNY Research Foundation (workshop organizer; moderator)
Eileen Tanghal, Managing Director, In-Q-Tel
AFTERNOON OPENING REMARKS
1:00 PM ET
Shadi Shahedipour-Sandvik, Provost-in-Charge, The State University of New York
PANEL: INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
1:05 PM – 1:45 PM ET
Craig Cook, Secretary of the Institute and General Counsel, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Lesley Millar-Nicholson, Director, MIT Technology Licensing Office
Per Stromhaug, Associate Vice President for Innovation and Economic Development, Binghamton University (moderator)
Todd Younkin, President & CEO, Semiconductor Research Corporation
PART 2: PERSPECTIVES FROM ACADEMIA & GOVERNMENT
1:45 PM – 2:35 PM ET
Bob Karlicek, Professor, Electrical, Computer and Systems Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (workshop organizer; moderator)
Lisa Kuuttila, CEO & Chief Economic Development Officer, University of New Mexico Rainforest Innovations
Julie Lenzer, Chief Innovation Officer, Advanced Regenerative Manufacturing Institute
Ben Schrag, SBIR/STTR Program Director & Policy Liaison, National Science Foundation
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SESSION 3: PREPARING PROTO-COMPANIES & STARTUPS
2:35 PM – 3:25 PM ET
Microelectronics and semiconductor innovation requires complex facilities, expensive equipment with specialized staffing, and significant investment. Featuring speakers from incubators, national labs, technical facilities, and other organizations, this session will explore how access to facilities and technical support systems can cut costs and reduce time to market.
Jason Ethier, Senior Director of Membership, Greentown Labs
Rick Gardner, Associate Vice President for Economic Development, University of Buffalo (moderator)
Aimee Rose, Executive Managing Director, Activate
Grant Warner, Director of Innovation, College of Engineering & Architecture, Howard University
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SESSION 4: STARTUP EXPERIENCES & SHARED FACILITIES
3:25 PM – 4:15 PM ET
Featuring speakers and panelists from different regions and varying stages of development—from seed stage to initial public offering—this session will invite founders and technical leaders of hard-tech startups to describe their journeys.
Nathaniel Cady, Empire Innovation Professor, SUNY Polytechnic Institute; Executive Director, SUNY Applied Materials Research Institute
Remus Nicolaescu, CEO & Co-founder, Pointcloud Inc.
Veronika Stelmakh, CEO & Co-founder, Mesodyne
PANEL: ACCESS TO FOUNDRIES AND DESIGN TOOLS
4:15 PM – 4:50 PM ET
Julia Aebersold, Micro/Nano Technology Center Manager, University of Louisville
John Iacoponi, VP Technology Strategy, NY CREATES
Sandrine Martin, Managing Director, Lurie Nanofabrication Facility, University of Michigan
Jorg Scholvin, Assistant Director of User Services, Fab.nano, MIT (moderator)
Questions? Contact nano-events@mit.edu