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Monthly Programs - January 12, 2010

Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Campus Center - Odeum

Keynote topic: Squeeze More Value from Your Intellectual Property

Licensing may be the most obvious way to capture the value of your patented ideas, but there are others approaches to consider, says WPI Venture Forum keynote speaker Douglas Flood. Former Vice President of Corporate Development at Mercury Computer Systems, Flood led more than 13 merger and acquisition transactions and 12 other strategic alliances or licensing agreements during his 11-year tenure.

His talk at the January 12 WPI Venture Forum meeting will cover the nuts and bolts of maximizing IP as an asset, discussing less traditional approaches.  Flood has extensive global experience in leading growth strategies, particularly public and private company acquisitions and licensing in software, technology and information in computing, biotechnology, life sciences and other diverse markets.  Before Mercury, Flood was with internet software company FTP Software. He holds a law degree from Boston University and a master's in mathematics from SUNY Stony Brook.

Case Presentation - Athena Diagnostics Inc.

A reference laboratory in Worcester's Biotech Park, Athena Diagnostics is dedicated to the development and commercialization of diagnostic testing for neurological disorders.  Its technologies are licensed predominantly from the academic research environment.  Founded in 1989, Athena's predecessor company went through several acquisitions, and in March 2006, was purchased by Fisher Scientific International. Eight months later, Fisher merged with Thermo Electron Corporation to form Thermo Fisher Scientific, based in Waltham, Mass.

Presenting the story of Athena's successful growth through sales to successively larger companies will be Michael W. Henry, Vice President, Business Development. He has more than 20 years of experience in biotechnology business development on both sides of the equation, including Avant Immunotherapeutics, University of Massachusetts Medical School and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

Panelists critiquing the case presentation include Flood; Prahlad Singh, Head, Strategy and Business Development, Philips Ultrasound; and Joe Straight, CEO, Altura Diagnostics.

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Last modified: July 19, 2010 16:37:40