Technology Transfer Research Liaisons
Successful technology commercialization programs depend on close collaborations with researchers. To increase researcher engagement in technology transfer, ORNL led a team of 11 DOE national laboratories in launching the Technology Transfer Research Liaison program. The program was initially supported by DOE’s Practices to Accelerate the Commercialization of Technologies Laboratory Call.
Over a two-year period, participating laboratories saw an 8% average increase in the number of invention disclosures and a 12% increase in first-time inventors reporting inventions. In 2024, ORNL’s team was recognized with a Technology Transfer Innovation Award from the Federal Laboratory Consortium for this project.
Liaisons are recruited and trained to be embedded technology scouts, subject matter experts, and ambassadors to their technology transfer offices. They assist their peers in identifying and disclosing new inventions, as well as how to work effectively with prospective licensees.
ORNL’s current liaison cohort includes:
- Prasanna Balaprakash, Computing and Computational Sciences
- Sandra Davern, Isotope Science and Engineering
- Sam Hollifield, National Security Sciences
- Diana Hun, Energy Science and Technology
- Santa Jansone-Popova, Physical Sciences
- Brad Johnson, Fusion and Fission Energy and Science
- Mark Loguillo, Neutron Sciences
- Josh Michener, Biological and Environmental Systems Science
- Andrew Nelson, Fusion and Fission Energy and Science
- Femi Omitaomu, Computing and Computational Sciences
- Soydan Ozcan, Energy Science and Technology
- Dave Rotsch, Isotope Science and Engineering
- Vivek Sujan, Energy Science and Technology