Industry-focused MIT offices to now be supervised by Martin Schmidt
Martin Schmidt, an esteemed MIT professor of electrical engineering and associate provost, has been appointed as the new Director of the MIT Industrial Liaison Program (ILP), effective from July 1, 2023. This role encompasses the Technology Licensing Office (TLO) and the Office of Corporate Relations (OCR), positions that Schmidt will lead.
With over 80 journal publications and 120 peer-reviewed conference proceedings to his name, Schmidt's scholarly achievements are impressive. Moreover, he is an inventor on over 30 U.S. patents, further highlighting his innovative prowess.
Schmidt's industrial background is equally noteworthy. He is a co-founder of several companies that are commercializing products enabled by microelectromechanical systems. His experience in manufacturing entrepreneurship extends to consulting with industry on the commercialization of technology.
In 2011, Schmidt served as the faculty lead in the Advanced Manufacturing Partnership, a White House-led task force. This role underscores his commitment to fostering collaborations between academia and industry.
In his new role, Schmidt will manage the patenting, licensing, trademarking, and copyrighting of intellectual property developed at MIT. He will also work to foster relationships between companies and MIT, a role that is crucial for technology commercialization, corporate partnerships, and supporting startups originating from MIT’s research.
Schmidt's appointment as the Director of the ILP comes after the departure of Fiona Murray, who has served in the role for the past five years. With his robust industry connections and entrepreneurial spirit, Schmidt is poised to make significant contributions to MIT's ongoing efforts to bridge the gap between research and industry.
MIT’s licensing office historically plays a critical role in global tech transfer, linking campus innovation to industry applications. Schmidt’s leadership in this area suggests he likely has experience in steering such activities and building entrepreneurial ecosystems—consistent with MIT’s culture of blending cutting-edge research with commercial impact.
In sum, Martin Schmidt’s role at MIT is pivotal for connecting research innovations with industry stakeholders and fostering entrepreneurship, a role that aligns with his extensive background in manufacturing entrepreneurship and technology commercialization.
- Martin Schmidt, as the new Director of MIT's Industrial Liaison Program (ILP), will be responsible for the Technology Licensing Office (TLO) and the Office of Corporate Relations (OCR).
- Schmidt's impressive scholarly achievements include over 80 journal publications and 120 peer-reviewed conference proceedings.
- He is an inventor on over 30 U.S. patents, demonstrating his innovative prowess.
- Schmidt's industrial background is notable, as he is a co-founder of several companies that commercialize products driven by microelectromechanical systems.
- In 2011, Schmidt served as the faculty lead in the Advanced Manufacturing Partnership, a White House-led task force, underscoring his commitment to fostering collaborations between academia and industry.
- Schmidt will manage the patenting, licensing, trademarking, and copyrighting of intellectual property developed at MIT, working to foster relationships between companies and the institution.
- Schmidt's appointment is significant because it follows the departure of Fiona Murray, who served as the Director of the ILP for the past five years.
- Schmidt's role at MIT is crucial for bridging the gap between research innovations and industry stakeholders, aligning with his extensive background in manufacturing entrepreneurship and technology commercialization.
