The Transfer Files: Inside the World of Federal Innovation

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The Transfer Files: Inside the World of Federal Innovation features engaging and thought-provoking conversations about a range of topics related to federal technology transfer. Each episode reveals insights, expertise and experiences from a professional in the technology transfer ecosystem – including researchers, T2 professionals, entrepreneurs and more.

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35 min

Stephen Luckowski: The Patent Holiday Opening Doors for Industry

The Department of War is sitting on a massive portfolio of federally developed technology, including more than 6,000 active patents. The challenge is making sure those inventions don’t just stay in a catalog, but actually find their way into the hands of companies that can turn them into useful products. That’s the thinking behind the Defense Patent Holiday, a new pilot program designed to make government-owned intellectual property easier for industry to explore. In this episode, I talk with Stephen Luckowski, Director of Technology Transfer, Transition, and Commercial Partnerships for the Department of War, about how the Patent Holiday came together and why removing upfront fees can make such a difference for startups and small businesses. Stephen explains how commercial evaluation licenses give companies room to test the market potential of federal technologies, work with government laboratories, and decide whether an invention fits into their product plans. We also discuss how the program is growing beyond patent licensing itself, with manufacturing resources, funding opportunities, and other support intended to help companies move promising technologies toward commercialization. Stephen shares what the department is learning from the pilot, why success means more than simply counting licenses, and how a more intentional approach to commercialization could strengthen both the industrial base and the technologies available to the warfighter. In This Episode: [01:11] Stephen Luckowski introduces his role leading Technology Transfer, Transition, and Commercial Partnerships for the Department of War and explains his responsibilities for patent licensing and intellectual property reporting. [04:13] The department is creating a strategic view of federally funded intellectual property and strengthening commercialization opportunities across its research portfolio. [05:08] Conversations with Undersecretary Emil Michael led to the creation of the Defense Patent Holiday and the idea of making government patents more accessible to industry. [07:52] The first Patent Holiday offered hundreds of curated patents in critical technology areas with no upfront fees to encourage participation from startups and small businesses. [11:00] The program changes the way the department views billions of dollars in research investment by treating patents as dynamic assets with commercialization potential. [13:02] Commercial evaluation licenses allow companies to assess government-owned technology, work with federal laboratories, and determine whether an invention fits their market and product plans. [15:44] The department is learning from the Patent Holiday pilot, and feedback from participating companies could influence future technology transfer policies. [17:13] The NextFlex Industry Day connected companies with curated microelectronics patents, advanced manufacturing capabilities, and additional resources to support commercialization. [22:15] Companies exploring the Patent Holiday portfolio can use curated patent lists, TechLink assistance, and other federal resources to evaluate opportunities. [25:11] Success for the Patent Holiday means moving federally developed technologies into commercial products that can also meet the needs of the warfighter. [28:39] Future Patent Holidays could involve other government agencies while expanding the economic and national security benefits of commercializing federally funded innovation. [31:31] The Innovation for Impact forum provides an opportunity to focus on national security technology transfer, connect with industry, and showcase the department’s evolving commercialization strategy. Resources: FLC The Transfer Files Stephen Luckowski - Department of War Defense Patent Holiday Innovation for Impact: A National Security Technology Transfer Forum

20 min

Paige George: FLC's New Executive Director on Federal Labs, Partnerships, and Tech Transfer

A career in federal technology transfer can take unexpected turns, but for Paige George, stepping into the role of executive director of the Federal Laboratory Consortium felt like the natural next step. After beginning her Navy career as a high school intern, Paige went on to become a mechanical engineer, technology transfer manager and longtime FLC leader. Paige shares how the relationships she built throughout the federal laboratory community prepared her for this new chapter. She also discusses the leadership lessons she learned from Paul Zielinski, the opportunities ahead for the FLC and why connecting people, laboratories and resources remains essential to moving federally funded innovation into the world. In This Episode: [02:00] Paige George explains how a high school internship at the Navy base introduced her to engineering, military technology and the career possibilities available within the federal laboratory system. [05:00] Attending her first FLC national meeting revealed the remarkable range of backgrounds within technology transfer and helped Paige recognize that she had found the professional community where she belonged. [08:25] Stepping into the executive director role felt like a natural progression after years of serving as a regional coordinator, committee chair, board member and technology transfer leader. [11:32] A closer look at the organization’s daily operations has deepened Paige’s appreciation for the staff members who work behind the scenes to deliver programs, resources and major events for federal laboratories. [12:55] New strategic priorities create opportunities for the FLC to expand access to federal laboratory expertise, strengthen partnerships and help federally funded research produce practical benefits for the nation. [15:33] Looking ahead, Paige wants the FLC to remain the leading resource for federal technology transfer while connecting more laboratories, new professionals and national partners to its network. [17:28] Federal laboratory professionals are encouraged to get involved with the FLC because strong relationships can provide career support, institutional knowledge and valuable connections across agencies and regions. [18:51] The conversation closes with a reminder that successful technology transfer depends on connecting people, laboratories, resources, partners and ideas to move innovation into real-world use. Resources: Federal Labs Consortium Federal Labs Consortium - Facebook Inside T2 at the Navy With Paige George Federal Laboratory Consortium Names Paige George Executive Director Paige George - LinkedIn

15 min

Stephen Crutchfield: Inside FLC's T2 Mechanisms Chatbot for Federal Tech Transfer

Federal technology transfer can be difficult to navigate, especially for someone approaching a government laboratory for the first time. From CRADAs and licensing agreements to material transfer agreements, each option serves a different purpose. Simply figuring out where to begin can become a hurdle before a conversation ever takes place. Stephen Crutchfield helped develop the Federal Laboratory Consortium’s T2 Mechanisms chatbot, a tool designed to make that first step easier. Users describe what they hope to accomplish with the government and what resources they need. The chatbot then points them toward a mechanism that may fit their situation while offering a straightforward explanation of how it works. In this episode, Stephen shares how the team turned dozens of federal authorities into a much simpler decision tree. We talk about the work involved in refining the chatbot and why it is meant to guide users rather than replace a technology transfer professional. He also explains how a clearer starting point could make federal laboratory partnerships feel more accessible to companies and researchers. In This Episode: [02:32] Stephen explains how the T2 Mechanisms chatbot helps people outside the federal government find a possible starting point. [04:08] The team reviewed federal laws and agency authorities before narrowing them into simpler concepts. [06:45] An extensive spreadsheet evolved into a decision tree built around what non-federal partners hope to accomplish. [08:25] Each result includes a recommended mechanism with an explanation and references to the authority behind it. [09:02] The tool introduces users to their options while leaving the final recommendation to technology transfer professionals. [11:12] Testing the decision tree required repeated adjustments when certain answers produced the wrong result. [11:40] Feedback from the technology transfer community could help shape future versions of the chatbot. [12:33] The generated recommendation also teaches users about the basics of each mechanism. [13:08] A reminder to explore the chatbot with different inputs and see how its recommendations change. Resources: Federal Labs Consortium Federal Labs Consortium - Facebook Stephen Crutchfield - LinkedIn T2 Mechanisms Chatbot Stephen Crutchfield: Commercializing Navy Research Through Strategic Matchmaking

22 min

David McFeeters-Krone: Finding the Right Partner for Your Toughest Technical Problem

Some technical problems are too specific, too complex, or too far outside a company’s normal day-to-day work to solve alone. A manufacturer might have a product that works at the bench level, but not at scale. A process might be close, but the yield is inconsistent. A team might know what it needs to make, but not who has the equipment, expertise, or research capabilities to help them get there. In this episode, we talk with David McFeeters-Krone about how the Center for Advanced Technology Solutions, or CATS, helps companies work through those kinds of challenges. Through the Manufacturing Extension Partnership, his team helps small and medium-sized manufacturers define the real problem, find the right technical resources, and build connections with federal labs, universities, Manufacturing USA Institutes, vendors, and other partners who may already have part of the answer. David also shares why these partnerships matter beyond one company or one technical fix. When a business can get past a production hurdle, improve consistency, shorten a supply chain, or avoid a costly dead end, that progress can support U.S. manufacturing, strengthen competitiveness, and help federal lab technologies create real-world impact. His work is a reminder that successful tech transfer often comes down to connecting the right people, problems, and capabilities at the right time. In This Episode: [02:10] David McFeeters-Krone shares how he entered tech transfer through MIT’s Technology Licensing Office after studying physics and unexpectedly landing a role among a team largely connected to MIT. [03:29] His career expanded into NASA-supported technology commercialization work, where he helped move federal technologies into the marketplace and connected companies with opportunities to collaborate. [04:14] The early tech transfer landscape was still developing after Bayh-Dole, with universities and federal labs working through many of the licensing practices and questions that still shape the field today. [05:21] Current work through NIST’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership focuses on helping small manufacturers improve operations, solve production issues, and strengthen their ability to compete. [06:24] CATS, the Center for Advanced Technology Solutions, supports companies facing technology-related production problems by connecting them with partners who can provide expertise, facilities, capabilities, or research support. [07:31] Licensees, CRADA partners, vendors, and other lab-connected companies are strong candidates for support because they are often trying to scale new technologies or solve unfamiliar manufacturing challenges. [09:10] Many companies struggle because their internal teams are already focused on research, payroll, insurance, customers, and daily operations, while CATS can focus directly on finding the right technical solution. [09:47] Materials, composites, metals, 3D printing, machining, aerospace, biomedical, and agricultural technologies all come up in this work, but the real strength is knowing how to investigate the problem and find the right expert. [10:50] More established companies are often easier to help quickly because they already know their market and have more business structure in place, but early-stage companies can also benefit from technical matchmaking. [12:10] Strong partnerships can help smaller companies build credibility, find the right words to explain their needs, and show that they can work responsibly within a broader commercial ecosystem. [13:32] A soy-wax manufacturer needed help improving formulation consistency while staying within biological requirements, leading to a CRADA with USDA researchers to explore better options. [14:33] A composite air taxi company avoided costly dead ends by connecting with Oak Ridge-related resources that could evaluate manufacturing options and identify a more practical path forward. [15:51] Shortening supply chains is becoming a major priority, especially when companies can bring production closer to home or help existing suppliers build the capability to make what is needed. [17:10] Domestic manufacturing, defense procurement needs, and support for small manufacturers are all creating more urgency around investment, technical connections, and better use of existing U.S. capabilities. [18:14] Federal labs and their partners can move faster by working with organizations like MEP, CATS, Apex Accelerators, and Small Business Development Centers that are already eager to help companies succeed. [19:51] Listeners can learn more about MEP through NIST, follow CATS on LinkedIn, or contact David directly through Intellectual Assets for help finding technical resources and partnership opportunities. Resources: Federal Labs Consortium Federal Labs Consortium - Facebook David McFeeters-Krone - LinkedIn David McFeeters-Krone - Intellectual Assets Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Center for Advanced Technology Solutions by MEP (CATS) T2 Stars: David McFeeters-Krone Earns His Title as a T2 Connector

40 min

Deana Jones: Advancing Agricultural Innovation Through Technology Transfer

Agricultural research depends on strong partnerships, practical solutions, and technology transfer strategies that connect federal science with the producers and industries it serves. Dr. Deana Jones brings that perspective to her work as Director of the USDA Agricultural Research Service’s U.S. National Poultry Research Center, where she leads a broad portfolio spanning poultry food safety, product quality, feed safety, avian viral diseases, and related agricultural research. In this episode we discuss how technology transfer shows up in agricultural research, where collaboration often depends on trust, long-term relationships, and well-structured agreements. She shares how her team works with industry, universities, and other partners to move promising ideas forward while protecting the research, the collaborators, and the path to real-world use. We also talk about building technology transfer into the culture of a research center from the beginning, not as an afterthought. From encouraging scientists to involve OTT early to highlighting a newly approved in-shell peanut moisture meter, she offers a candid look at leadership, partnership, and the work it takes to turn federal research into practical agricultural solutions. In This Episode: [03:04] Dr. Deana Jones shares how growing up around agriculture, poultry farming, and 4-H shaped her path into science [04:02] Leading the U.S. National Poultry Research Center and championing research that delivers practical solutions [06:18] The center’s broad research portfolio, from poultry food safety and feed safety to avian viral diseases [07:42] How technology transfer works in agricultural research through agreements, partnerships, and real-world testing [09:07] The surprising scope of poultry science and the many disciplines involved in supporting the industry [12:21] Why trust, respect, and long-term relationships are essential when working with producers and industry partners [15:46] Becoming the person stakeholders think of when they have a problem, even when the answer is outside your own lab [17:13] Building a culture where scientists think about technology transfer early, not after the research is complete [19:32] Bringing OTT into research planning, equipment decisions, and partnership timelines from the beginning [21:48] A newly approved in-shell peanut moisture meter that gives farmers faster results and supports better grading decisions [25:37] Moving the peanut moisture technology from early field testing to licensing, collaboration, and USDA approval [29:58] What FLC’s Laboratory Director of the Year recognition means to Deana and the team behind the work [31:44] Emerging opportunities in poultry research, including artificial intelligence, diagnostics, and avian disease mitigation [34:07] How federal labs can shorten the path from discovery to practical solutions through stronger partnerships [35:29] Advice for early-career technology transfer professionals on showing up, learning the science, and building trust [38:42] Why agricultural innovation depends on broad, collaborative teams that look at the whole problem [40:11] Making the most of long-term agricultural research projects by gathering as much useful information as possible [42:07] Closing thoughts on Deana’s work, the FLC Learning Center, and resources for listeners Resources: Federal Labs Consortium Federal Labs Consortium - Facebook Dr. Deana Jones: Advancing Feed Safety USDA Agricultural Research Service Dr. Deana Jones - LinkedIn

19 min

Launching Innovation for Impact: A New Forum for National Security Tech Transfer

Technology transfer is already challenging, but it gets even more complicated when national security is involved. Federal labs are trying to move important research and capabilities out into the world, while also protecting sensitive information, managing risk, and making sure the wrong details do not end up in the wrong hands. That is the thinking behind Innovation for Impact: A National Security Technology Transfer Forum, a new FLC event taking place December 1 through 3, 2026, in Leesburg, Virginia. I am joined by FLC Vice Chair David Lee and FLC Promote Committee Chair Annie Bullock Yoder to talk about why this forum was created, who it is meant to serve, and what attendees can expect from the federal-only training tracks and Industry Engagement Day. This conversation looks at the larger moment facing the federal innovation community right now. There is a real need for speed, collaboration, and practical training, but there is also a need to protect the research, resources, and partnerships that matter most. David and Annie share how this new forum is being shaped around those realities and why bringing the right people into the same room could make a meaningful difference. In This Episode: [02:43] Annie Bullock Yoder explains how the idea for Innovation for Impact grew out of the FLC’s post-COVID shift away from regional in-person training events. [03:28] National security has become a critical focus for federal technology transfer, especially as labs balance accelerating innovation with protecting sensitive resources and data. [04:35] David Lee describes the forum as a way to bring together practical in-person training and stronger engagement with industry partners. [05:26] The event is designed to give tech transfer professionals and supporting attorneys focused training, then connect that critical mass of federal lab expertise with industry. [06:57] The event will take place December 1 through 3 at the National Conference Center in Leesburg, Virginia. [07:27] The first two days will focus on federal-only legal and tech transfer training tracks, while the third day will serve as an Industry Engagement Day. [08:12] Potential partners include academia, defense contractors, companies interested in entering the defense space, and state or local agencies working in homeland security. [09:19] Possible training topics include handling classified material in CRADAs, working with security offices on DD 254s, and managing university partnerships with foreign collaborators. [10:52] Success will be measured partly through feedback, but also through the longer-term relationships, agreements, and technology outcomes that may follow the event. [12:09] Strong attendance would be an early sign of success and would show whether there is real demand for this kind of focused FLC-led event. [13:16] Survey responses and return attendance would help the FLC understand whether the training and partnering opportunities provided meaningful value. [14:19] If the model works, similar forums could eventually be adapted for other federal lab focus areas such as biotech, pharma, energy, environment, infrastructure, or agriculture. [15:30] Practical reasons to attend include training, knowledge-sharing, networking, and the chance to make industry partners more familiar with federal lab capabilities. [16:51] The planning timeline includes the June 15 topic submission deadline and the goal of opening registration before the end of August. Resources: Federal Labs Consortium Federal Labs Consortium - Facebook Innovation for Impact: A National Security Technology Transfer Forum FLC Vice Chair David Lee FLC Promote Committee Chair Annie Bullock Yoder

35 min

Angela Lewis: What It Takes to Lead a High-Impact Federal Lab

Federal laboratories play a critical role in moving ideas from research into real-world use, but that work depends on more than technical expertise. It takes leadership, strong partnerships, and a clear understanding of how innovation supports the mission. At Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division, that mission is centered on delivering capability to the warfighter, and technology transfer has become an important part of how that work gets done. Dr. Angela Lewis, Technical Director at NSWC Crane and the 2025 FLC Lab Director of the Year, brings more than three decades of experience across operations, strategy, and leadership. She has helped shape how one of the Navy’s most mission-critical labs approaches innovation, builds external partnerships, and connects research with outcomes that support national security. She was also featured in last year’s Lab Directors Forum at the FLC National Meeting, where she shared perspective on leading in complex environments and using technology transfer as a strategic tool. This conversation follows Dr. Lewis’ career journey, including how her understanding of technology transfer evolved and why culture matters so much when building a strong innovation ecosystem. She also shares practical lessons for other federal labs, from engaging leadership to creating the structures, incentives, and partnerships that help technology transfer move from good ideas to measurable mission impact. In This Episode: [02:16] Dr. Angela Lewis shares how she first came to Crane as a high school intern, knowing very little about the organization but recognizing it as a place that offered strong career opportunities in her community. [03:10] Her career path at Crane has included continuing education, leadership development, and opportunities to grow while staying connected to the daily mission of supporting warfighters. [06:09] Technology transfer helps Crane build the right team for each phase of a project, from academic research to small business prototyping to large defense partners capable of fielding solutions at scale. [07:07] Dr. Lewis explains that her view of technology transfer changed while serving as chief of staff and hearing Crane’s T2 director explain the range of mechanisms available for working with outside partners. [09:14] Because Crane operates much like a zero-profit business, the organization has to deliver on cost, quality, and schedule in order to maintain demand from program offices. [12:01] Dr. Lewis frames technology transfer as part of being a good steward of taxpayer-funded intellectual property and making sure federally developed ideas have a path to broader impact. [15:17] Crane’s innovation ecosystem includes research and education partnerships across 39 states, 60 universities, and more than 168 industry partners. [16:03] Dr. Lewis says technology transfer could not remain the responsibility of one office if Crane wanted it to become part of the organization’s DNA. [18:50] Building a true innovation ecosystem requires more than a list of contacts; Dr. Lewis describes it as an active process of seeking out the right partners and maintaining meaningful engagement. [20:10] Crane deepens outside relationships through efforts like the Distinguished Lecture Series, temporary faculty programs, and collaborative joint research projects. [21:03] The Indiana Research Consortium shows how shared vision and active collaboration can make a multi-party CRADA work at scale. [22:37] The consortium’s turning point came in 2024, when Purdue University, Indiana University, and Notre Dame signed a Memorandum of Understanding to create a formal structure around shared defense technology priorities. [24:53] By its third event in 2024, Silent Swarm had grown from 17 participating technologies to more than 50, creating a larger venue for industry, academia, and government labs to collaborate. [26:34] Silent Swarm brings together realistic environments, platforms, data collection, government subject matter experts, and operators who can evaluate technologies in a warfighting context. [27:35] Dr. Lewis says metrics matter, but the real measure of technology transfer success is whether partnerships are aligned with the Navy’s most pressing mission needs. [29:26] Strong technology transfer culture depends on leadership behavior, especially making T2 visible, measured, and clearly tied to the organization’s priorities. [30:05] During annual strategic alignment discussions, Crane’s leadership team reviews technology transfer and partnership activities alongside budgets, workload, and project planning. [32:09] For technology transfer professionals, Dr. Lewis’ practical advice is to use the Federal Laboratory Consortium network and learn from peers rather than trying to build programs alone. Resources: The Transfer Files - Federal Labs Consortium FLC Learning Center Dr. Angela Lewis - Federal Labs Consortium Dr. Angela Lewis - Naval Sea Systems Command NSWC Crane Announces Its First Female Technical Director Dr. Angela Lewis - LinkedIn

29 min

Andy Myers: Why PRO™ Matters for Federal Tech Transfer Professionals

Turning research into something people can actually use sounds straightforward, but in the federal world, it’s anything but. It takes people who can move between science, business, and policy, people who know how to translate complex ideas, build the right partnerships, and guide innovations out of the lab and into the real world. That “in-between space” is where a lot of the real work happens, and it’s where this conversation begins. My guest today is Andy Myers, who leads technology transfer activities at the Kansas City National Security Campus. His career spans small business research, academia, and nearly a decade in federal tech transfer, and it all traces back to a simple but important skill of learning how to explain science to people who aren’t scientists. We talk about how that ability shaped his path, what his day-to-day work actually looks like, and how his role within a Department of Energy national security environment brings a different perspective, especially with its focus on manufacturing and moving technologies closer to real-world use. We also dig into something new that’s taking shape across the field. The Federal Laboratory Consortium is rolling out a verification for Professional Registered ORTAs, or PROs, and Andy walks through what it is and why it matters. In a space where most professionals don’t follow a traditional path, the goal is to create more consistency with shared standards, clearer expectations, and a sense of progression that helps both individuals and the broader tech transfer community move forward with a little more direction. In This Episode: [02:21] Andy shares how his career began in chemistry and gradually shifted toward communication and tech transfer [03:08] The importance of explaining science to non-scientists and operating in that “in-between” space [03:47] What technology transfer really involves, from commercialization to legal and business considerations [04:33] Moving from small business research into academia and eventually federal tech transfer [05:18] A look at Andy’s role leading tech transfer at the Kansas City National Security Campus [06:12] How DOE labs operate under a government-owned, contractor-operated model [06:58] The unique national security mission tied to the campus and its broader ecosystem [07:34] Why the campus focuses more on production and manufacturing than pure research [08:13] How their work brings technologies closer to real-world commercial applications [08:49] Examples of tech transfer areas including additive manufacturing, electronics, and cybersecurity [10:07] The challenge of entering a field with no clear or traditional career path [11:12] Why shared standards and a common language matter across federal tech transfer [12:27] Introducing the PRO designation and how it fits into the broader professional landscape [13:43] How PRO compares to other certifications and why the federal space needs its own [14:58] What PRO (Professional Registered ORTA) actually represents for practitioners [16:06] The balance between experience, training, and community involvement in earning the designation [17:14] Why PRO is designed to be meaningful but not overly burdensome to achieve [18:08] How the designation builds trust with partners and external stakeholders [19:13] Walking through the application process and key requirements [20:07] Timeline expectations and how applications will be reviewed [21:02] Why ongoing learning and participation in the community are part of the criteria [21:47] How PRO could have accelerated Andy’s own professional development [22:33] The value of having a clearer roadmap instead of learning through trial and error [23:12] Advice for experienced professionals considering applying for PRO [24:02] The shift from learner to mentor and how PRO supports that transition [25:08] The growing importance of federal tech transfer in national competitiveness [26:04] Real-world examples of tech transfer success, from airport scanners to everyday tech [27:02] Reflecting on the broader impact of federal innovation and why the work matters Resources: The Transfer Files: Inside the World of Federal Innovation Andy Myers - FLC Andrew Myers - LinkedIn Kansas City National Security Campus PRO (Professional Registered ORTAs)

45 min

Ernesto Chanona: What Tech Transfer Can Learn from Business Development

Strong science doesn't automatically lead to commercial success. There's a gap between breakthrough research and real-world impact that trips up even the most promising technologies. Business development or the art of building relationships, positioning innovations, and navigating markets is where many tech transfer offices find themselves stretched thin or stuck. My guest Ernesto Chanona the CEO of American Business Development knows both sides of this world. He earned his PhD in pharmacology and did postdoctoral work at the National Cancer Institute developing immunotherapies. But instead of continuing down the traditional academic track, he made a sharp turn into business development at Maryland's Department of Commerce, helping life science companies expand internationally. Years later, he founded American Business Development to work with tech transfer offices, startups, and foreign companies trying to break into the U.S. market. In this conversation, he walks through what business development actually looks like in life sciences including equal parts sales, technical expertise, and strategic consulting. We talk about the bandwidth crunch hitting tech transfer offices, building frameworks that scale, and why he insists the best marketed technology usually wins over the best science. He shares hard-won lessons about pitching investors, navigating the fragmented U.S. healthcare system, and why his best advice is deceptively simple: ask for help. People in this field genuinely want technologies to succeed, and trying to figure it all out alone is where most innovators get stuck. In This Episode: [02:08] Ernesto's unconventional path from pharmacology PhD to business development. [06:58] Defining what a business developer does in life sciences—more than just sales. [07:49] The three pillars: salesperson, subject matter expert, and consultant. [11:20] Why business developers hold critical relationships that can't easily be replaced. [13:45] The underappreciated role of federal labs in the innovation ecosystem. [17:04] Where tech transfer offices struggle most with business development. [19:00] Bandwidth challenges and why being short-staffed creates the biggest gaps. [20:00] First steps when evaluating whether a technology needs partners or better positioning. [21:13] Building scalable BD frameworks—internal operations and external consistency. [22:53] What separates commercially ready technologies from those needing development. [23:44] The role of luck and market validation in commercial readiness. [24:46] Deploying demo units to universities for voice-of-customer feedback. [26:03] Balancing high-risk innovations with near-market technologies. [28:20] The biggest mistakes organizations make when pitching to investors. [28:51] Why the size of your ask matters more than you think. [30:12] The importance of detailed, well-researched outbound messaging. [33:08] ABD Capital Connect event during J.P. Morgan Healthcare Week. [35:02] International expansion challenges and competition from China. [36:28] Why the fragmented U.S. healthcare system confuses foreign companies. [38:18] The problem with one-person in-country hires versus team-based approaches. [39:40] Why the best marketed technology wins, not just the best science. [42:01] Final advice: It takes a village, so leverage your network and ask for help. [43:06] How willing people are to help when you're motivated to bring something to market. Resources: The Transfer Files Podcast - FLC American Business Development ernesto@americanbizdev.com Ernesto Chanona - LinkedIn Ernesto Chanona - Johns Hopkins ABD Capital Connect

54 min

Powering Partnerships: IEEE and the Future of Tech Transfer

Welcome back, everyone and welcome to Season 3 of the Transfer Files! We are so glad you're here, and we're kicking things off with a conversation that gets at the connective tissue of innovation, the organizations that help move ideas out of the lab and into the world. Today we're joined by Joanne Wong and Cassandra Carothers, two guests from IEEE, the world's largest technical professional organization dedicated to advancing technology for humanity. Joanne is an engineer by training with a career spanning IBM, HP, SAP, and Cisco, who later founded her own startup and found her way into venture capital and now volunteers with IEEE Entrepreneurship. Cassandra brings a global perspective, having started her career advising C-suite executives in Asia before moving into early stage deep tech investing and founding Departure Capital, a firm focused on frontier tech for existential resilience. Together they've been building something really exciting within the IEEE ecosystem that we'll get into today. If you work anywhere near research, standards, startups, or industry partnerships, chances are you've touched IEEE in some way whether through their publications, conferences, standards development, or their growing work in entrepreneurship and technology commercialization. That reach is exactly why this conversation matters so much for the federal tech transfer community. We talk a lot about moving inventions to market, but standards, industry alignment, and global technical networks are often the difference between a promising prototype and a technology that actually scales. So today we're digging into how IEEE connects researchers with industry, where standards intersect with commercialization, and what opportunities exist for federal labs and tech transfer offices to plug into that ecosystem. We also have an important update from the broader FLC community. Our Executive Director Paul Zielinski recently announced that he'll be retiring. His leadership has shaped not just the FLC, but the federal tech transfer ecosystem more broadly including expanding programs, strengthening interagency collaboration, and helping position tech transfer as a core part of the federal innovation mission. Paul is here to reflect on that journey, talk about what's changed in the field, and what he sees ahead for our community. In This Episode: [02:18] Joanne shares her background as an engineer, moving from IBM and major tech firms to founding her own startup. [02:54] Joanne describes how she fell into venture capital and connected with REDD's Capital out of California. [03:11] She introduces her volunteer role with IEEE Entrepreneurship and gives an overview of the organization. [03:55] Cassandra takes over and walks through her global career path from Hong Kong consulting to US-based venture capital. [05:33] Cassandra introduces Departure Capital and her focus on frontier tech for existential resilience. [06:02] The conversation turns to why they launched the Hard Tech Venture Summit and what "hardware is hard" really means. [07:22] Discussion of Moore's Law limitations and why innovation must return to hardware fundamentals to support AI growth. [08:47] The case that the world's biggest problems are physical, requiring atoms not just bits. [09:14] The roots of venture capital and the US government's early role as the first tech investor are explored. [10:28] Why manufacturing is a critical and often overlooked piece of the hard tech startup puzzle. [11:10] Where hardware founders most commonly get stuck between the lab and the market. [12:00] The challenges of team building, go-to-market strategy, and moving from prototype to mass manufacturing. [12:48] Funding gaps, regulatory hurdles, and the stigma around investing in hardware-heavy startups. [14:30] Stakeholder misalignment explored with manufacturers, engineers, investors, and regulators all optimizing for different things. [15:44] The origin story of the Hard Tech Venture Summit and its inaugural event in San Francisco. [16:30] Why startups and investors are regional and why that drove the decision to host multiple summits. [17:22] How the summits are volunteer-driven through IEEE and interest in expanding to Latin America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. [18:52] What makes the Hard Tech Venture Summit different from a typical startup conference or demo day? [20:09] How attendees are hand-selected and vetted to ensure genuine hardware focus with no deep tech tourists. [21:35] The roundtable format explained with small curated groups designed for real conversation, not pitching. [22:02] How the safe, judgment-free environment encourages honest feedback between founders, investors, and ecosystem partners. [23:29] Day two of the summit is a half-day manufacturing workshop designed for early stage founders. [24:13] How mentors help founders understand manufacturing contracts, yields, and timelines in a personalized setting. [25:59] Future goals around tracking data, capital mobilization, and measuring real outcomes from the events. [27:00] Where federal labs and the FLC fit into the hard tech ecosystem and how they can get involved. [29:14] How people from federal labs can find and connect with the Hard Tech Venture Summits. [30:23] Hopes for a joint partnership between IEEE Entrepreneurship and FLC and spreading the word to 500,000 IEEE members. [31:43] Three to five year vision includes concrete metrics, capital mobilized, and building a true sense of community and continuity. [34:08] FLC Executive Director Paul Zielinski has announced his retirement. [35:05] Paul reflects on how difficult it was to walk away from something he's been passionate about for decades. [36:24] Paul is most proud of the sense of community that the FLC has built over the years. [37:42] Why modernization was a priority from launching the podcast to redesigning FLC Business and embracing digital tools. [38:20] How COVID unexpectedly accelerated digital transformation at FLC while reinforcing the value of in-person connection. [39:04] The focus on professional development, learning tracks, and positioning tech transfer as a respected profession. [40:43] The mentorship program, online learning, and a teaser about an upcoming announcement to raise the prestige of the profession. [42:02] How the FLC has evolved and grown its facilitate pillar and moving from administration to action. [44:06] How Paul has seen the role of federal labs in the innovation ecosystem evolve over his 30-plus year career. [45:04] The parallel growth of environmental law and tech transfer law in the 1980s and how that shaped his career. [46:09] Looking ahead to AI, quantum science, and how FLC platforms are beginning to adopt AI tools. [46:44] What qualities Paul hopes to see in his successor including passion, advocacy, vision, and the ability to listen and act. [49:25] Reflections on serving at the White House level and across multiple agencies throughout his career. [50:03] Paul shares his retirement plans and his hope to stay connected to the tech transfer world and see the many friends he's made along the way. Resources: Federal Labs IEEE IEEE Entrepreneurship Hard Tech Venture Summits Joanne Wong - LinkedIn joanne.wong@ieee.org REDDS Capital Cassandra Carothers - LinkedIn cassandra@departure.vc cassandra@ieee.org Departure Capital - LinkedIn Paul Zielinski - LinkedIn