Innovation and Excellence: Unveiling the 2023 Technology Transfer Working Group Award Winners

This spring, the Technology Transfer Working Group (TTWG) issued its annual awards, celebrating professionals who help commercialize U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) research and Intellectual Property (IP). The TTWG comprises leading staff members across DOE's 17 National Laboratories, all of which engage regularly in critical research and development. These awards celebrate the exceptional work done by the National Labs to support American competitiveness and security through a streamlined commercialization process.

TTWG MEMBER OF THE YEAR

Chris Wright

Princeton University

Chris Wright, Licensing Associate at Princeton University, has been recognized for his outstanding contributions in the TTWG community, particularly for his leadership and dedication in the TTWG Licensing Forum.

BEST IN CLASS AWARDS

IP MANAGEMENT: Erin Beaumont

National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)

Senior Licensing Executive Erin Beaumont from NREL has been lauded for managing a diverse portfolio of technologies, ranging from wind energy to cybersecurity, over the past eight years. Her robust patenting strategies for software-focused technologies and unwavering support for DOE OTT and TTWG commercialization and entrepreneurship programs have marked her out as a key player in the IP management landscape.

IP LICENSING: Jon Cook

Idaho National Laboratory (INL)

Jon Cook, Senior Commercialization Manager at INL, has been honored for his role in deploying the Consequence-driven Cyber-informed Engineering (CCE) methodology. This innovative approach focuses on securing the nation’s critical infrastructure systems and has been deployed via a multifaceted approach with a focus on broad proliferation.

PARTNERING: Susan Ochs

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL)

Senior Agreements Manager Susan Ochs of ORNL has been honored for enabling and fostering collaborative partnerships with industry. Susan's professionalism and dedication to establishing trustworthy relationships have been recognized as essential for driving the successful deployment of ORNL’s capabilities.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT:  Robert Westervelt, Judy Hendricks, John Martinez, John Rogers, and Julia Wise

Sandia and Los Alamos National Laboratories

The Technology Readiness Gross Receipts (TRGR) Technology Readiness Initiative team, a joint program of the two New Mexico national laboratories—Sandia and Los Alamos—has been recognized for helping early-stage companies navigate the "valley of death" by assisting with prototype development and technology validation. The team's work has led to significant economic development in New Mexico, fostering the successful engagement of more companies in technology transfer.

INNOVATIVE LAB TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER: Hannah Farquar and Roger Werne

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL)

When DOE’s Office of Technology Transitions announced the availability of funds for expanding the popular Lab Corps program, Hannah Farquar and Roger Werne from LLNL were quick to take advantage of this opportunity. They designed a proposal to provide an additional entrepreneurial experience for scientists who wanted to learn more about technology commercialization in a structured format, albeit with less commitment than the full Lab Corps program. Their aim was not only to benefit LLNL scientists but also to share this enriching experience with other entrepreneurial scientists at National Labs.

To date, the National Lab Accelerator has trained 36 researchers in the art of entrepreneurship and hosted 10 pitch events that included participants from 15 DOE National Laboratories. More than 70 Bay Area investors and entrepreneurs have acted as business mentors, and between 30 and 50 investors have attended the pitch events. The program has fostered the formation of three companies, furthering the spirit of innovation and entrepreneurial culture within the National Labs.

SINGLE PURPOSE FACILITY: Julienne Krennrich and Craig E Forney

Ames National Laboratory

The team at ANL invented a patented acid-free dissolution recycling process. This ingenious process can efficiently recover rare earth elements from dilute sources like shredded hard disk drives, significantly reducing the U.S.'s reliance on mining and imports. The nominated team guided the research team through various aspects of commercialization, which included raising maturation funds, participating in a tech-based business incubator program, winning a DOE Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) award that enabled the team to scale, and negotiating a commercial license. In 2022, the commercial scale pilot facility started producing batches of recycled rare earth oxides.

EARLY CAREER PROFESSIONALS: Jess Jungwirth and Paige Price

Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) and Idaho National Laboratory (IDL)

Jess Jungwirth, Technical Business Development Specialist at SNL, and Paige Price, Technology Transfer & Intellectual Asset Management Specialist at IDL, have made substantial contributions to their respective fields in their short careers. As young professionals, their commitment, fresh ideas, and innovative approaches to problem-solving have proven instrumental in promoting the effective transfer of cutting-edge technologies to the commercial sector.

Their work not only accelerates the application of scientific research to real-world problems but also fosters a dynamic and robust technology ecosystem. Their commendable efforts continue to inspire their peers and make significant strides towards the DOE's vision of creating a prosperous future through science and technology.

DOE OTT DIRECTOR'S AWARD

INNOVATIVE LAB TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER: Hannah Farquar and Roger Werne

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL)

Hannah Farquar and Roger Werne's innovative approach to promoting technology transfer has earned them the DOE OTT Director's Award for Innovative Laboratory Technology Transfer. Their exceptional contribution lies in the design and implementation of the esteemed "National Lab Accelerator Pitch Event."

They've shown exemplary leadership, organizing an event that encouraged labs across the nation to present their technology and business models to investors and industry leaders. This initiative not only showcased innovation but also amplified the impact of the DOE's I-Corps program and other entrepreneurial initiatives.

Farquar and Werne's transformative approach to fostering industry-lab collaborations and their dedication to enhancing technology transfer has been rightly recognized with this prestigious award. Their commitment to fueling innovation within national laboratories continues to set the bar high in the technology transfer landscape.

Congratulations to all 2023 award winners for their exceptional work, dedication, and contributions to their respective fields. The TTWG applauds these individuals and teams for their significant efforts in the technology transfer process, which is essential to American competitiveness and security. We look forward to their continued successes and the new innovations they will bring to our nation.