PIVOT Center at the University of Utah with Keith Marmer

Keith Marmer from the University of Utah is Lisa’s guest on this episode of Tech Transfer IP. Keith is the Chief Innovation & Economic Engagement Officer at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. Before working at the PIVOT Center, Keith served as the Associate Vice President for Technology & Venture Commercialization and Corporate Partners at the University of Utah.

Keith shares his background and how he landed at the University of Utah. He discusses his view on why he believes the term Tech Transfer should be changed to Innovation Management and what the PIVOT Center is all about. Keith speaks about how the roles for the University of Utah’s Center for Technology & Venture Commercialization have evolved now that the office has become PIVOT Center.

Listen, as Keith talks about how PIVOT Center is structured and their yearly average of invention disclosures and active licenses. Keith discusses their top-earning inventions and what he believes is most important in managing innovations to have the greatest opportunity of success.

Keith speaks about their corporate partners, and their role in getting their wet lab incubator started. He talks about the relationship they have with philanthropic organizations, what StartUp 360 is, some of their most successful startups, and some of their biggest challenges. He also shares the value they find in organizations like AUTM and his opinion on credentialing.

In This Episode:

• [02:39] Welcome to the show, Keith!
• [02:57] Keith shares his background and how he ended up at the University of Utah.
• [05:32] Keith discusses why he thinks we should change the phrase Tech Transfer to Innovation Management.
• [07:45] Listen as Keith speaks about PIVOT Center and what it does.
• [09:49] How have the roles for the University of Utah’s Center for Technology & Venture Commercialization changed now that the office has become PIVOT Center?
• [11:38] Keith shares how PIVOT Center is structured.
• [13:03] Keith discusses the average amount of invention disclosures and active licenses they get per year.
• [13:40] What would say your top earning inventions are?
• [15:04] Keith speaks about what he believes is most important in managing innovations to have the greatest opportunity for success.
• [17:18] Keith describes their approach to litigation.
• [19:08] He talks about corporate partners and their role in technology transfer at PIVOT Center.
• [21:41] Keith discusses working through the processes for opening up a wet lab incubator with one of the corporate partners.
• [23:34] How recent was the launch of the incubator?
• [24:31] Keith speaks about how corporate partners have led to differently structured deals.
• [27:21] Keith discusses their relationship with philanthropic organizations at the University of Utah.
• [30:33] Reflecting on past license transactions, what might you have done differently if you knew then what you know now?
• [33:54] Keith shares what “StartUp 360” is.
• [36:34] Keith talks about how many entrepreneurs and residents they have at one time.
• [39:34] Listen as Keith shares some of their successful startups.
• [41:27] What are two of your office’s biggest challenges?
• [44:27] Resources are always a constant battle.
• [47:47] Keith discusses the programs they have at PIVOT for women inventors and entrepreneurs.
• [49:16] Keith talks about the organizations they are involved in and the value they add.
• [50:58] Do you think the RTTP designation or credentialing makes a difference?
• [52:12] Keith describes his three wishes for PIVOT and the vision that has already been realized.
• [54:50] Thank you so much for being on the show!

Find Keith Marmer

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