Terry Lopaka Adams has been appointed to lead the tech transfer office at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute following the retirement of Todd Keiller.
Worcester Polytechnic Institute has found its new director of the Office of Technology Commercialization (OTC) in Terry Lopaka Adams (pictured), who has joined from Howard University.
Adams follows in the footsteps of Todd Keiller, who retired last month after 11 years leading the OTC. Keiller grew the office from having no active licence agreements to more than 60 licences and nearly two dozen spinouts that have raised more than $1bn and created almost 500 jobs.
Adams was the head of technology transfer at Howard University from May 2020, having joined the university to build a new intellectual property office within the Office of Research.
Before this, he spent more than 11 years at food and drink conglomerate Nestlé, most recently as its assistant vice-president and head of the technology intellectual property function.
His earlier career stops include research management roles at personal care company Kimberly-Clark and consumer goods corporation Procter & Gamble.
Adams said: “I am excited to join WPI as the new director of technology commercialisation and to be part of an institution known for its innovation and commitment to advancing technology.
“I look forward to leveraging my knowledge and expertise to enhance and expand the technology commercialisation program, aligning it with WPI’s mission of driving positive change through cutting-edge research, innovation and entrepreneurship.”
Thierry Heles
Thierry Heles is editor-at-large of Global University Venturing and Global Corporate Venturing, and host of the Beyond the Breakthrough podcast.
