Have you ever wondered how technology that’s developed in universities and other academic institutions gets translated into a product to benefit the public? This process is known as technology transfer, and tech transfer professionals at research organizations all over the world evaluate new inventions, protect intellectual property, and license the technology to third parties, such as start-up ventures or existing companies, for development and commercialization.

At MIT, the Technology Licensing Office (TLO) supports MIT inventors throughout this process and plays a vital role in the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

You'll hear from Lauren Foster and Deirdre Zammit, Associate Directors of the TLO, about the strategic approach MIT takes to move innovations from the bench to the marketplace.

Speakers:

Deirdre Zammit is the MIT Associate Director of Licensing in the physical sciences. Deirdre supports a team that evaluates, protects, and licenses MIT innovations in the physical sciences industry. Deirdre’s professional experience includes roles managing and licensing corporate, academic, and federal laboratory intellectual property assets, and positions in engineering, product management, market management, and corporate venture capital functions.

Lauren C. Foster is the Associate Director of MIT's Technology Licensing Office (TLO), focusing principally on licensing and commercialization of technologies in the biomedical, biotechnology and medical device fields. Prior to joining MIT, Lauren was Senior Director, IP and Technology Acquisition at Antigenics, Inc., a public biotechnology company, where she played an integral role in envisioning and implementing the company’s business, intellectual property and technology strategies. Lauren was also a Technical Specialist at the law firm Lahive & Cockfield LLP where she focused on strategic development of intellectual property rights for biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies and universities.