Lisa is speaking with Ben Dibling, Deputy Managing Director of Penn Center for Innovation at the University of Pennsylvania, on this Tech Transfer IP episode. Ben leads the licensing, corporate contracting, and corporate outreach groups at the Penn Center for Innovations. Ben's team is responsible for working with Penn faculty, staff, and students to evaluate, protect, and commercialize Penn inventions and discoveries and facilitate engagement with industry and start-up formations.Ben holds a Ph.D. in Clinical Medicine from the University of Leeds and a Bachelor of Medical Science from the University of Birmingham and is licensed to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Ben is a member of AUTM, LES, and Chair of the Board of Governors for Certified Licensing Professionals.Listen as Ben shares his background, his journey to Tech Transfer at the Penn Center for Innovations, and what PCI focuses on. Ben speaks about the programs available at PCI and how PCI helps promote a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship at UPenn. He also talks about PCI Ventures and the two key programs they support called UPstart and UPadvisor's. Ben describes Penn Compact 2022 and how PCI supports the mission.Ben talks about how his office is structured, the PCI Fellows Program, and some fellows' paths after completing the program. Ben shares how many invention disclosures, patent filings, revenue-generating agreements, and royalty income his office has had in the last year and what he believes is most important in managing innovations to have the greatest opportunity for success.Ben describes some of his office's biggest successes, the one top of mind being the foundational mRNA technology that led to the development of Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna vaccines for COVID-19, and he shares two of the biggest challenges his office faces. Ben talks about the three things he would wish for his office's future and the value he believes organizations like AUTM and LES bring.In This Episode:[02:08] Welcome to the show, Ben![02:25] Ben shares his background and journey to Tech Transfer at the Penn Center for Innovations at the University of Pennsylvania.[05:27] Ben discusses the Penn Center for Innovation (PCI), what it does and what they focus on.[06:42] How does PCI help promote a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship at UPenn?[09:19] Ben speaks about some programs that are available at PCI.[10:21] Ben discusses PCI Ventures and what it supports.[11:12] Ben shares the two key programs that PCI Ventures has called UPstart and UPadvisor's.[14:09] Ben describes Penn Compact 2022 and how PCI supports the mission.[15:27] Can you tell us how your office is structured?[17:39] Ben discusses their corporate outreach function and some other teams his office has.[19:25] Ben shares about the PCI Fellows Program, which is an experiential education program.[21:29] Do you want to share the paths some of your fellows take after completion of the program?[23:26] Ben speaks about how many invention disclosures, patent filings, revenue-generating agreements, and royalty income his office had last year.[25:45] What do you think is most important in managing innovations to have the greatest opportunity for success?[27:48] Ben shares some examples of the relationships his office has with its corporate partners.[30:04] Ben believes that corporate partners have led to more deals and some differently structured deals.[31:10] Ben speaks about philanthropic organizations and how much interaction they have with them.[32:58] Ben describes some of PCI's biggest success stories in terms of technology.[33:21] The foundational mRNA technology that led to the development of Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna vaccines for COVID-19 is one of the largest wins.[36:55] What would you say are your office's two biggest challenges?[39:24] Ben shares the organizations like AUTM and LES his office is involved with and the value they bring.[41:27] What is your view of credentialing and do you believe it makes a difference?[43:00] Ben shares the three wishes he would like to see for his office's future.[46:03] Thank you for listening!Find Ben DiblingPenn Center for InnovationEmail

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