Technology Innovation Forum: Transitioning Materials for New Markets: Future Power and Energy Needs

8:30 am  
Yet-Ming Chiang (view bio) 
Kyocera Professor, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, MIT
Co-Founder, A123 Systems, Inc.

Talk Presentation: 
University Spin-Outs in Clean Energy: Challenges and Opportunities (view abstract)

Presentation Abstract
Research universities are hotbeds of innovation in energy technology. However, the academic entrepreneur faces numerous critical choices and decisions on the path from lab bench to commercial impact. In this talk we’ll consider issues such as licensing your own technology from the university, balancing academic and entrepreneurial responsibilities, skill sets for a successful team, and questions to expect from venture investors.

Yet-Ming Chiang Biography
Yet-Ming Chiang is Kyocera Professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at MIT, where his research focuses on advanced materials and their role in technology, especially clean energy technologies. He has entrepreneurial experience as the co-founder of four companies: American Superconductor Corporation (NASDAQ: AMSC), A123 Systems (NASDAQ: AONE), SpringLeaf Therapeutics, and 24M Technologies, a member of the National Academy of Engineering, and Fellow of the Materials Research Society and American Ceramic Society. He also serves on numerous government panels including the U.S. DOE’s Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Advisory Committee and Basic Energy Sciences Advisory Committee.

8:55 am 

Minh Le (view bio)
Chief Engineer
Solar Energy Technologies Program
U.S. Department of Engineering

Talk Presentation: 
SunShot: Leveraging Public and Private Capital to Achieve National Objectives in Solar Energy 
(view abstract)

Presentation Abstract
The Solar Energy Technologies Program at the Department of Energy is focused on supporting Research, Development, Demonstration and Deployment of solar energy technologies to achieve national objectives of making solar energy competitive with fossil fuels without subsidies by the end of the decade. An example of one of the funding opportunities is the PV Incubator Program, which since 2007 has made $59 million in investments that leveraged $1.2 billion in private capital. Companies such as Abound Solar, CaliSolar, Solopower and 1366 Technologies have benefited from investments by the Solar Program and several have gone on to be awarded a total of $590M in DOE Loan Guarantees.

Minh Le Biography
Minh Le is the Chief Engineer of the Solar Energy Technologies Program. Minh and his team manage and develop funding programs to achieve the Sunshot goals of unsubsidized grid parity. Prior to his current role at the DOE, Minh spent his career in industry developing and scaling technologies to high volume manufacturing. He has served on the Board of Directors of a Design For Manufacturing startup and has advised a number of other high technology startups. Minh earned his SB and SM degrees from MIT where he held fellowships by the DoD, DoE, and the Bose Foundation.

9:20 am 

David H. Wells (view bio)
Greentech Team
Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers 

Talk Presentation:
Commercializing Early Stage Research 
(view abstract)

 Presentation Abstract
Drawing on nearly 40 years of experience investing in early stage ventures, Kleiner Perkins has developed a unique culture and methodology to identify and nurture disruptive innovation. This approach focuses on teams and innovation, driven by our own unique perspectives across the broad landscape of Cleantech technologies and services. Selected ventures from among our 70 portfolio companies will be highlighted.

 David H. Wells Biography
David joined the Greentech investing team at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers in May 2006. Building relationships with scientists and entrepreneurs throughout the US and Europe, David has helped bring many ventures through the KP investment process including due diligence, investment structuring, goal setting, and team building. Beginning with a collaboration with KP partner Bill Joy in 2004, David has built a detailed and diverse base of Greentech knowledge across multiple energy technologies and scientific disciplines, together with a matching knowledge base of resources, markets and incumbents. David’s background includes ten years of technical experience in marine and shipboard engineering, and eight years building and selling a nationwide business in Japan.

10:15 am 
Anand Kamannavar (view bio)
Associate Investment Manager
Applied Ventures, LLC

Talk Presentation 
Crossing the Chasm from Lab to Fab—A Corporate Venture Perspective(view abstract)

 

Presentation Abstract
Start-ups continue to face the challenge of taking ideas from a lab scale demonstration to successful commercialization via mass production in a capital efficient and timely manner. Applied Ventures’ mission is to invest in early-stage next generation companies in clean energy (generation, conservation, and storage) and development of new markets. An overview of portfolio companies that are commercializing next generation ideas and how they are effectively working with corporate investors to accelerate their innovations from lab to mass-production will be highlighted.

 Anand Kamannavar Biography
Anand Kamannavar joined Applied Ventures in 2006 and has over 13 years of experience in the technology and venture capital industry. At Applied Ventures, Anand focuses on identifying, investing and managing investments in area of Cleantech, Materials and India. Anand works closely with research labs and universities globally in commercialization and spin-off efforts. Prior to his career in venture capital industry, Anand co-founded a startup and held engineering and business development roles with HP where he was awarded key US patents. Anand received a MBA from the University of Chicago and holds a graduate degree in Electrical Engineering.

10:40 am 
David J. Parrillo (view bio)
Global R&D Director
The Dow Chemical Company
Solar Solutions R&D

Talk Presentation
Corporate Venture Capital: Sustaining US Commercialization In Breakthrough Materials (view abstract)

Presentation Abstract
Corporate Venture Capital can work in partnership with US federal and state governments, universities, and venture and private equity players to ensure a robust venturing environment and ultimately sustain US manufacturing in breakthrough materials. A strategic approach to combining innovation functions within a company to invest in the seed stage as well as the expansion stage of start-up companies is discussed. In addition, the unique aspect of corporate venturing in managing and fostering growth through overall risk reduction is presented.

Dave Parrillo Biography
Dave Parrillo is the Global R&D Director for Solar Solutions R&D. Dave joined Dow in 2007 where he has been responsible for all licensing R&D activities, directing R&D and serving on the Leadership Teams for several separate business units. Dave holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania.

 11:05 am 

Brent M. Segal (view bio)
Director of Research Science
Lockheed Martin Corporation 

Talk Presentation 
Interesting or Innovative: Thoughts on Commercialization of Nanomaterials (view abstract)

Presentation Abstract
Commercialization and scale-up of nanotechology capabilities has been a challenge for many years, and is now beginning to show some promise. This presentation will address challenges faced when migrating new technology from the lab to market, and provide insight into the technical and business considerations facing today's maturing nanotech capabilities. A discussion of technology transition techniques will also be included, along with thoughts on how these may be applied in the field of nanotechnology

Brent M. Segal Biography
Dr. Brent M. Segal is a Director of Research Science at Lockheed Martin and Chief Technologist for Lockheed Martin Nanosystems following the acquisition of the Nantero Government Business in 2008. In his role at Lockheed Martin, Brent has a broad charter to integrate nanotechnology throughout the Lockheed Martin product portfolio. Brent received a BS in Biochemistry from Reed College and a PhD in Chemistry from Harvard University. Prior to joining Lockheed Martin, Brent co-founded and served as the Chief Operating Officer of Nantero, a leadin--g nanotechnology company where he generated more than 100 patents and applications. Nantero raised $31.5M in three private equity rounds (DFJ, CRV and Globespan) and secured government programs totaling in excess of $50M.

11:30 am
Panel Discussion 

The state of the economy has certainly slowed the pace of investment in clean energy technologies, but more significantly it has changed the strategies needed to start or expand new enterprises. Advances in the technologies and in the global development infrastructure themselves have contributed to this change in the types and objectives of the still active investors. The pace is picking up. All of the speakers from the morning sessions will discuss these changes, exchanging questions among themselves and addressing those from the audience.