Technology Transfer at Northwestern University with George Chellapa

Today on Tech Transfer IP, Lisa has the pleasure of speaking with George Chellapa. George is an Invention Manager at Innovation and New Ventures at Northwestern University (INVO). George works with faculty to protect their intellectual property and bring technologies to market. He is also involved in negotiating agreements between Northwestern and commercial partners. George was with the and Washington University Technology Transfer Offices before joining Northwestern.

Listen as George shares his background and journey to Tech Transfer at Northwestern University and the Tech Transfer trainee program he attended at Washington University in St. Louis (or Wash U) . He talks about INVO, who they are and what they do, and two of the programs they have called Lakeside Discovery and The Garage. 

George speaks about how his office is structured and how many disclosures, patent applications, licenses, and license revenue his office has had over the last year. George also talks about what he believes is most important when managing innovations to give them the greatest opportunity for success. George discusses the role corporate partners and philanthropic organizations play and what he would have done differently when he first started if he knew then what he knows now.

George believes that being remote and finding the right balance between patent budget and patenting the technology with the greatest promise are two of his office's biggest challenges. He shares the Better World Project and the value he believes that organizations like AUTM bring to his office, plus advice for a postdoc looking to transition into Tech Transfer. George's vision for Northwestern is to set trends and best practices for commercialization technologies through both licensing and startups.

In This Episode:

• [02:09] Welcome to the show, George!
• [02:28] George shares his background and his journey to Tech Transfer at Northwestern.
• [04:32] George speaks about a Technology Transfer trainee program he attended at Washington University in St. Louis.
• [05:51] George discusses INVO, what they do and who they are.
• [06:28] George talks about Lakeside Discovery and its goal.
• [07:12] George says that The Garage is the one-stop-shop for graduate and undergraduate entrepreneurs.
• [08:08] How is your office structured?
• [10:59] George shares how many disclosures, patent applications, licenses, and license revenue they had had last year.
• [11:56] What do you think is the most important in managing innovations to give them the greatest opportunity for success?
• [13:15] George describes some relationships they have with corporate partners.
• [14:59] George talks about his role with philanthropic organizations.
• [16:04] Reflecting on past license transactions or partnerships, what would you have done differently if you knew then what you know now?
• [16:45] Being remote is one of his office's biggest challenges and finding the right balance between patent budget and patenting the technology has the greatest promise.
• [17:49] George shares what programs INVO has that help women inventors and entrepreneurs.
• [18:52] George discusses the Better World Project and the value he believes AUTM has brought him.
• [20:28] What advice do you have for people who want to transition from being a Post Doc to Tech Transfer?
• [22:34] George says his vision for Northwestern is to set trends and best practices for commercializing technologies through both licensing and startups.
• [23:51] Thank you for being on the show!

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