AUTM on the Air

Most people focus on the breakthrough, but there is a massive gap between a scientific discovery and a product that actually reaches the public. Today, we’re stepping into the "engine room" of one of Africa’s premier research institutions to see how that gap is bridged. My guest is Ravini Moodley, Director of the Technology Transfer Office at Stellenbosch University’s Innovus. She has a background in microbiology and a Master’s in Technology and Innovation Management. She also has the ability to speak both the technical language of the scientist and the strategic language of the market.
At Innovus, she leads a specialized team tasked with finding the "gems" buried within university research and polishing them for the real world. While the broader commercial strategy is set at the executive level, Ravini manages the ground-level pipeline that moves ideas from the lab bench to a functional spin-out. This role requires constant navigation between social impact and economic viability. While ensuring that complex science doesn't just sit on a shelf, but transforms into a solution that can survive a competitive global landscape.
We discuss building a high-functioning TTO and why empathy is the most underrated skill in the field. We also learn why South Africa’s unique geography shapes their strategy. Rather than trying to out-compete institutions like MIT or Oxford in every category, Stellenbosch is doubling down on agricultural and sustainability technologies where they can lead the world simply by connecting the right people. We look at what it takes to turn research into something the world can benefit from.

In This Episode:
[02:27] Ravini walks through the rhythm of her day, from early meetings on contracts and licensing to coordinating closely with research management and her team.
[05:10] Much of the work centers on connecting researchers with industry while balancing reporting, policy review, and the constant flow of new opportunities.
[08:20] Identifying strong IP is both proactive and reactive, with the team building relationships in labs to spot promising ideas before publication.
[11:05] A sustainability case study highlights enzyme-based technology for breaking down bioplastics, developed through a collaboration with the University of Padova.
[14:35] Ravini explains how projects move from disclosure through IP protection and early business analysis before transitioning to the LaunchLab incubator.
[17:42] Empathy plays a key role in guiding researchers, especially when navigating tough conversations around patentability and commercialization paths.
[20:02] While tech transfer challenges are similar globally, South Africa faces unique hurdles due to market size and geographic distance, making global partnerships essential.
[22:00] She shares her excitement around sustainability and agricultural technologies, where local impact can often happen more quickly with the right connections.

Resources: 
AUTM
Ravini Moodley - Stellenbosch University
Ravini Moodley - LinkedIn

One of the biggest shifts in technology transfer over the past decade isn’t just the pace of innovation. It’s the realization that value isn’t created at a single moment. It builds over time, shaped by how well research, intellectual property, and real-world application stay aligned. The challenge isn’t only generating strong ideas. It’s understanding how those ideas evolve, how they’re protected, and whether they ultimately solve problems people care enough about to adopt and pay for.
My guest today is Ram Krishnan, Senior Director of Engineering in Qualcomm’s Government Affairs Group, where he focuses on global IP ecosystem development. Ram's career has taken him across engineering, business, and intellectual property in standards-driven industries such as wireless communications, AI, XR, and autonomous driving. Now he works with universities, startups, and government organizations around the world, focused on how innovation gets taught, protected, and turned into real products and technologies that can actually scale.
We talk about what it means to think about innovation as a full lifecycle rather than a single breakthrough, how strong IP portfolios are built over time, and why the most durable technologies consistently solve meaningful, “pay-for” problems. Ram also shares how industry approaches long-term university partnerships, what signals a tech transfer office is thinking beyond a single transaction, and why early education around IP can change the trajectory of entire ecosystems. It’s a grounded look at how ideas move from research labs into global standards and what makes that journey successful.

In This Episode:
[02:30] How wireless R&D runs on long innovation cycles, where each generation from 3G to 5G builds over time through continuous problem-solving.
[04:15] Ram describes his current work at Qualcomm, focusing on global IP ecosystem development and engaging universities, students, and startups around innovation and entrepreneurship.
[05:55] What successful technologies have in common early on, centering on solving real problems that people are willing to pay for.
[06:57] Looking back at 3G, we reflect on how bringing internet access to mobile phones once felt groundbreaking, even if it seems routine now.
[07:35] We discuss 4G and 5G, and how video, content creation, and network demands evolved with each wave.
[08:25] A look ahead to 6G, where AI and wireless technologies are expected to become increasingly intertwined.
[09:21] IP strategy, with an emphasis on building strong portfolios across the lifecycle rather than relying on single patents.
[11:05] Universities come into the picture, especially their strength in foundational research and the growing need to translate that into commercially useful IP.
[12:35] A deeper look at university relationships shows why long-term, trust-based partnerships tend to outperform one-off engagements.
[14:10] Programs like the Inventors Patent Academy come up as examples of how early education around IP is being built into the pipeline.
[15:45] The balance between standards and proprietary innovation is explored, showing how both play a role in scaling technology globally.
[18:00] In areas like AI and 6G, universities are engaging more deliberately, including increased participation in standards development.
[20:05] Internal alignment across engineering, legal, and business teams is highlighted as a key factor in making external collaborations run smoothly.
[21:30] Strong university partners tend to stay aligned on outcomes and connect their research to real-world problems, even as projects and people change.
[23:03] Expanding a single invention into adjacent use cases comes up as a practical way to build a more valuable and durable IP portfolio.
[24:10] When universities reach out, things like entrepreneurial culture, maker spaces, and spinout track records signal whether there’s real alignment.
[25:45] Ram reflects on lessons learned, especially the importance of being disciplined about IP disclosure before sharing ideas in collaborative settings.
[26:43] Tech transfer works best when it takes a full, 360-degree view from early education all the way through commercialization.

Resources: 
AUTM
Ram Krishnan - LinkedIn
Qualcomm
The Inventor’s Patent Academy

There’s a moment every tech transfer professional recognizes, when a discovery feels like it could matter, but you can’t quite see how it gets from the lab into the real world. That gap is where a lot of promising ideas stall out. In this episode, the conversation takes a closer look at that in-between space and asks a simple but uncomfortable question: what if the problem isn’t just funding or timing, but the lack of the right kind of institution to carry these ideas forward?
This is our 300th episode, and I’m happy to introduce Ben Reinhardt, founder and CEO of Speculative Technologies. His career has taken him through academia, NASA, startups, and venture capital, and that perspective shapes how he thinks about innovation. We talk about what he calls “big-if-true” technologies, how to recognize them, and why the current system often struggles to support them. Ben shares why the traditional, linear view of innovation breaks down in practice and how different environments each bring strengths that don’t always connect the way we assume.
We also get into the structural gaps that leave technologies stranded in the valley of death, what earlier models like Bell Labs actually got right, and why simply recreating them isn’t realistic today. Ben walks through how his organization approaches early-stage ideas, from identifying the biggest risks to thinking ahead about how something eventually reaches the market or becomes a public good. It’s a thoughtful look at how innovation really happens and what might need to change to help more ideas make it all the way through.

In This Episode:
[03:02] Ben Reinhardt shares how frustration across academia, NASA, startups, and venture capital led him to create a new kind of research institution.
[03:55] The idea behind Speculative Technologies emerges from seeing the same barriers repeated across every innovation environment.
[05:28] Why recognizing breakthrough ideas often starts with a researcher’s intuition before it can be clearly articulated.
[07:05] A dual strategy for sourcing ideas: high-touch conversations and broad outreach signals to attract unconventional thinkers.
[08:15] Lessons from working across institutions and why innovation doesn’t follow a simple linear path.
[10:22] How different environments excel at different types of work, from deep research to rapid execution.
[11:30] Why many promising technologies get stuck in the valley of death due to a lack of system-level ownership.
[13:45] Revisiting Bell Labs and similar models, and why modern equivalents need to look very different.
[14:50] The importance of combining small exploratory teams with the ability to scale successful ideas.
[17:05] Why large corporations no longer sustain these labs due to financial pressure and changing incentives.
[18:20] How innovation has shifted toward universities and startups as primary sources of new technology.
[20:10] Breaking down the four phases of Speculative Technologies’ research model from idea to transition.
[21:05] Why identifying the biggest technical risk early is more important than showing incremental progress.
[22:10] The “monkey and pedestal” analogy for focusing on what actually matters in early-stage research.
[24:45] The complexity of intellectual property and when it may or may not be the right tool.
[27:20] Why universities are not structured to fully develop or commercialize most technologies.
[29:10] Signals that a technology is ready to move beyond exploration into real-world application.
[31:05] The risks of pushing technologies out too early and damaging their long-term potential.
[32:10] Emerging areas of excitement, including advanced manufacturing, AI-enabled science, and new transportation systems.
[34:10] The value of embedding real-world practitioners into research environments to guide direction.
[35:00] Why breakthrough innovation requires new systems, incentives, and ways of thinking.

Resources: 
AUTM
Ben Reinhardt
Speculative Technologies

Collaboration is one of the defining strengths of the technology transfer community, and it often becomes even more important when resources are limited. This conversation takes a closer look at what it really means to operate in a small or under-resourced office, where the work can feel both expansive and unpredictable. From managing intellectual property to handling budgets, compliance, and stakeholder relationships, the scope of the role is broad, and no two days look quite the same.
My guests are two leaders who have spent a great deal of time thinking about how these offices not only function, but find ways to grow and succeed. Caitlin Long is Director of Technology Transfer and Innovation at Alvernia University and serves as the AUTM Small Office co-chair and an AUTM Foundation board member, with a focus on translating ideas into real-world health impact through a student-powered, community-engaged model. She is joined by Sanaz Shahi, Administrative Director of Intellectual Property at Rowan University and co-chair of the AUTM Small Offices Committee, who also plays an active role in supporting diversity, mentorship, and professional development across the AUTM community.
We talk about the realities of wearing multiple hats, the unexpected responsibilities that come with running a small office, and the moments when you realize you need help that may not exist within your own institution. We also explore the role of the AUTM Small Office Special Interest Group as a practical, day-to-day resource, along with strategies for avoiding burnout, building support systems, and learning from others instead of starting from scratch. We take a grounded look at how collaboration, shared knowledge, and community can turn what might feel like an isolated role into something far more connected and sustainable.

In This Episode:
[02:09] A look at what day-to-day work actually involves in a small tech transfer office, where one person often handles multiple roles at once.
[03:10] How responsibilities can range from licensing and IP strategy to stakeholder engagement and student supervision.
[04:20] The challenge of constantly switching between big-picture strategy and detailed operational work is explored.
[05:05] Real-world examples show how deadlines, competing priorities, and limited time can create pressure in small teams.
[06:10] A surprising aspect of the role is the amount of financial and administrative work involved, including budgets and legal invoices.
[07:15] Early career moments are shared where there was little internal support and a need to seek guidance externally.
[08:05] The importance of the broader tech transfer community becomes clear as a source of advice, mentorship, and practical solutions.
[09:20] Fellowship experiences are discussed as a way to gain knowledge, build confidence, and connect with experienced professionals.
[10:30] The idea of becoming “trilingual” in science, business, and law is introduced as a key skill in tech transfer.
[11:40] A discussion on why the community is so willing to share knowledge and support one another.
[12:50] The AUTM Small Office Special Interest Group is introduced as more than a forum, but a support system for under-resourced teams.
[13:40] Examples of real, practical conversations within the group, including patent strategy, budgeting, and compliance challenges.
[14:50] The value of sharing templates, workflows, and real-world examples to avoid reinventing the wheel.
[16:00] A shift toward sustainability and the importance of managing workload to prevent burnout.
[17:10] Strategies for setting boundaries and building support systems, even when staffing is limited.
[18:05] Creative approaches to staffing, including the use of student workers to extend capacity.
[19:00] The feeling of isolation in small offices is addressed, along with encouragement to connect with the broader community.
[19:50] Practical advice on building relationships, asking questions, and reaching out for one-on-one support.
[20:40] Reflections on how being part of the AUTM community changes decision-making and leadership approach.
[21:20] A reminder that collaboration and shared knowledge are key to long-term success in tech transfer.

Resources: 
AUTM
Caitlin Long - Alvernia University
Caitlin Long - LinkedIn
Caitlin Long - AUTM
Sanaz Shahi - Rowan University 
Sanaz Shahi - LinkedIn

Clean water plays a fundamental role in health, safety, and quality of life. This Earth Day conversation takes a closer look at PFAS, often called “forever chemicals,” and the growing challenge they pose to drinking water systems across the United States and beyond. My guest is Dr. Yongsheng Chen, a professor in the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology and the driving force behind a new approach to water treatment that aims to remove these contaminants at their source.
We talk about what makes PFAS so difficult to manage, from their persistence in the environment to the limitations of traditional, chemical-based treatment methods. Dr. Chen explains how his team is using artificial intelligence and machine learning to design advanced nanofiltration membranes. These membranes are built to target harmful substances and pull them out of the water, while still allowing clean water to pass through. His work focuses on removing what doesn’t belong in the first place. That difference matters more now as regulations tighten and even very small traces of contamination are no longer acceptable.
There’s also a broader story here about how innovation moves from research to real-world impact. Through the startup Minus Filtration, this technology is being developed for use in municipal systems, with potential applications that extend into agriculture and environmental protection. We discuss the role of multi-university collaboration, federal funding, and tech transfer in bringing this work forward, and what it takes to turn a scientific breakthrough into something communities can actually use.

In This Episode:
[02:10] Dr. Yongsheng Chen explains how PFAS have accumulated in water, soil, and even human bodies after decades of use in everyday products.
[03:45] The discussion highlights why PFAS are so difficult to remove, including their chemical stability, low concentrations, and the limits of existing water systems.
[05:10] Traditional water treatment methods are examined, including how chemical-based processes can solve one problem while introducing new risks.
[06:45] The conversation shifts to the need for new approaches as regulations require detection and removal at extremely low levels.
[08:12] Dr. Chen introduces the “minus approach,” which focuses on removing harmful contaminants rather than adding more chemicals to the water.
[09:35] A deeper look at nanofiltration membranes and how they act as precise molecular filters to separate contaminants from clean water.
[11:00] Dr. Chen describes how artificial intelligence and machine learning have accelerated membrane design, reducing years of trial and error to a faster, targeted process.
[12:30] The role of multi-university collaboration is explored, showing how different institutions contributed expertise to solve a complex problem.
[13:50] The journey from academic research to startup formation is outlined, including how the technology moved from lab results to real-world application.
[15:05] The importance of tech transfer offices is discussed, especially in guiding patents, licensing, and early commercialization efforts.
[16:10] Why municipal drinking water systems are the first target market and how the technology can integrate into existing infrastructure.
[17:40] The conversation expands to agriculture, including how PFAS-contaminated biosolids are spreading chemicals across millions of acres of farmland.
[19:05] Dr. Chen explains how his technology can remove PFAS upstream in wastewater treatment, helping prevent contamination before it reaches soil and crops.
[20:30] The concept of a circular economy is introduced, with a focus on removing contaminants while recovering useful nutrients.
[22:00] The impact of federal funding is discussed, showing how support from agencies like the USDA, NSF, and EPA enables real-world innovation.
[23:20] New EPA regulations on PFAS are explored, along with how stricter standards are driving urgency and creating demand for effective solutions.
[24:10] The challenge of removing short-chain PFAS is addressed, along with progress in developing membranes that can target both long- and short-chain compounds.
[25:15] Dr. Chen shares upcoming milestones, including improving membrane performance and scaling the technology through pilot testing.
[26:00] Looking ahead 10 years, the vision is a future where PFAS are no longer accumulating and clean water is the default.
[27:05] Advice is offered for tech transfer professionals on moving research into real-world impact through collaboration and persistence.
[28:20] Reflections on the role of innovation, AI, and commercialization in creating safer, more sustainable water systems.

Resources: 
AUTM
Dr. Yongsheng Chen - Georgia Tech
Minus Filtration