Date: 11 May 2023 (Thu) 

Time: 9:30-10:30am (HKT)

Venue: Zoom

Speaker: Ms. Lita Nelsen, Former Director of MIT Technology Licensing Office

Register Now: https://hkuems1.hku.hk/hkuems/ec_hdetail.aspx?guest=Y&ueid=87364

(Zoom link will be sent to registrants prior to the webinar)

Abstract

“Deep-tech” is defined as technology that is very early and may take a decade (or more) and up to 100 million dollars (or more) to move from a research invention to a market introduction.  This includes, for example, pharmaceuticals, clean energy, and new materials for large-volume applications.  University deep-technology inventions are difficult to license out. Large corporations are usually not interested because of the amount of money and time needed, and the high probability of failure.  Startups may be the only route to commercialization.  This seminar sets forth strategies for obtaining funding to support the long development cycle and provides tips for IP protection for software.

About Lita Nelsen

Lita Nelsen served in the Technology Licensing Office of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology for 3 decades, 25 years of which as director of the office. Throughout the period, the MIT TLO has licensed over 500 startup companies based on MIT research technology. She is the author of various articles and book chapters on technology transfer. During her tenure at MIT TLO, she has been invited to lecture and consult in tech transfer and university-based entrepreneurship in over 20 countries. She was also a co-founder of Praxis (now Praxis-Auril), a UK non-profit-making company for training tech transfer professionals, which earned her the title of a Member of the British Empire (MBE). Having retired from MIT, Lita is now a consultant on university licensing technology for young startups. She volunteers as a mentor in the MIT Sandbox Program, mentoring undergraduate students on kick-starting companies.