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Driving Innovation & Impact

A Year of Success at WHOI

Milestones & Momentum

This past year has been a remarkable period of innovation and impact at WHOI, a testament to the exceptional work of WHOI's dedicated scientific and engineering staff. Their groundbreaking research provides the foundation for transformative technologies and solutions that address critical global challenges.

Translating this research into real-world impact relies on contributions from across the institution. We celebrated a record number of annual licenses this year, with several promising startups launched. These successes position WHOI research innovations for broader impact.  The streamlined Express License program has been instrumental in accelerating the transfer of these technologies, providing inventors with greater clarity and efficiency throughout the process.

To further support our researchers, we introduced new resources such as the Entrepreneur-in-Residence program and the Pioneering Minds series. These programs provide invaluable mentorship and guidance, empowering researchers to navigate the entrepreneurial journey. The Translational Research Funding Program (TRFP), fueled by revenue generated from licensed technologies, continues to play a vital role in advancing promising research by providing critical gap funding. We are committed to expanding translational research support in the coming years.

This is a small snapshot of activity over the last year, but these achievements underscore the critical importance of innovation and entrepreneurship to WHOI's mission. By effectively translating our scientific discoveries into impactful solutions, we not only contribute to economic growth and societal progress but also ensure the long-term sustainability of our vital research endeavors.

We are incredibly proud of the work of our researchers, the dedicated team at OTT, and the many departments across WHOI who collaborate to make this progress possible. Their commitment to excellence and scientific discovery positions WHOI as a leader in ocean science innovation. We look forward to building on this momentum in the coming year!

Allison Markova- Director, Technology Transfer, and the entire OTT team:

Cristy Salanga- IP Manager & Patent Agent,

Annie Kozimor- Senior Marketing Associate

Abe Katzen- Senior Business Development Associate

Impact at a Glance

2024 Royalties & Revenues To Be Published Soon!

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SBIR/STTR Award Spend
New Licenses
Startups Launched
Issued Patents
New Patent Filings
New Disclosures

A Year of Innovation & Impact

Fueling Innovation & Streamlining the Innovation Process

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Welcoming Our First Entrepreneur-in-Residence

In 2024, OTT enhanced its support for WHOI inventors by welcoming Michael Hard as the inaugural Entrepreneur-in-Residence. Throughout the year, Michael provided invaluable guidance and mentorship to researchers, helping them translate their groundbreaking research into successful startups. We extend our sincere gratitude to Michael for his dedication and contributions to fostering a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem at WHOI.

Providing Critical Gap Funding

Through the Translational Research Funding Program (TRFP), OTT supported the advancement of promising WHOI technologies with commercial potential. This year, $200,000 in funding was distributed to innovative projects, thanks to revenue generated from licensed technologies.

Learn more about the awarded projects and explore how to apply for next year's funding cycle through WHOI's internal page.

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Launching the New WHOI Founder Express License

To streamline the technology transfer process and accelerate the launch of WHOI-based startups, OTT introduced a new Express Template License. This innovative approach offers inventors:

  • Increased Transparency: Clear and concise terms
  • Startup-Friendly Terms: Investor-friendly provisions and low upfront costs
  • Streamlined Processes: A fast-track licensing process for efficient execution

This accelerated approach proved highly successful, enabling the launch of 7 spinout companies from WHOI's research ecosystem.

Building Partnerships & Expanding Reach

Stakeholder & Community engagements
BlueTech & ClimateTech networking events attended

Academic Partnerships

OTT expanded its engagement through expanded partnerships with leading business schools including Tufts Gordon Institute, Babson College, and Brown University. These collaborations resulted in the development of insightful market research and commercialization reports for promising WHOI technologies, providing valuable insights for inventors.

OTT extends its sincere gratitude to the faculty, staff, and students at these institutions for their invaluable contributions. We look forward to continuing these productive partnerships in the coming year and exploring new avenues for collaboration to further accelerate the translation of WHOI research into impactful innovations.

External Engagement

In 2024, OTT actively engaged with the broader innovation ecosystem, fostering valuable partnerships and expanding WHOI's reach. Our team participated in numerous industry events, serving on panels, contributing to programs, and representing the Institution at key gatherings, including: 401 Tech Bridge, NavalX, SeaAhead, Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, Gulf of Maine Research Institute, COVE (Halifax, Nova Scotia), Port of New Bedford, Creative Destruction Labs, Blue Institute, Dutch Innovation Network. These engagements provided valuable opportunities to showcase WHOI's cutting-edge research, connect with potential partners, and explore new avenues for collaboration.

Promoting Diversity and Inclusion

In collaboration with WHOI's WoGeMs group, OTT hosted a series of events showcasing accomplished women in innovation and entrepreneurship. These events aimed to:

Promote Diversity & Inclusion:

Foster a more inclusive environment in technology transfer and commercialization.

Inspire Female Researchers:

Encourage female scientists and engineers to pursue careers in innovation and entrepreneurship.

Showcase Success Stories:

Highlight the achievements of successful female entrepreneurs and the impact of university-developed innovations.

Watch the recorded sessions:

  1. Emerging Entrepreneurship in Science with WHOI's Anne Cohen
  2. Women in the Blue Economy 

Showcasing WHOI Innovations

To enhance technology marketing efforts and connect industry with WHOI's groundbreaking research, OTT launched a new online platform: the Technology Publisher Page. This user-friendly resource showcases a diverse range of cutting-edge technologies available for licensing and partnerships.

Researchers and industry partners can easily explore available technologies by searching across various industries and applications.

Click here to view available technologies.

2024 Issued Patents

Collapsible Turbine

Inventors: Jeff Kaeli, Robin Littlefield

US Patent Number: US12110676B2

Doppler Tracking

Inventors: Erin Fischell, Peter Traykovski

US Patent Number: US20230341507A1

Optical Calibrator

Inventors: Paul Fucile

US Patent Number: US12055641B2

Underwater Ranging and Timing

Inventors: Norman Farr, Christopher McRaven, Leo Pelletier, Jonathan Ware

US Patent Number: US12058635B2

Rotational Feedback Control

Inventors: Frederic Jaffre, Jeff Kaeli

US Patent Number: US11990857B2

Institutional Education & Inventor Representation

In 2024, OTT launched new educational resources and initiatives to support inventors and staff and broaden the impact of research-derived innovations. These new initiatives included: a new annual intellectual property course, starting a new Ask Me Anything - IP Edition, hosting open drop-in sessions for WHOI staff to meet with the Tech Transfer team, sending internal bi-weekly BlueTech Bulletin Newsletters, and creating a WHOI Tech Transfer LinkedIn page.

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Intellectual Property Trainings Facilitated
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LinkedIn Followers
Tech Transfer Events Hosted