Jim Deane has been appointed director of the University of Hawai’i’s Office of Innovation and Commercialization, seeing him return to his alma mater after more than two decades.
Jim Deane, currently the associate director of Innovation Partnership Services at the University of Oregon, will join the University of Hawai’i on Monday to become director of the Office of Innovation and Commercialization (OIC).
Deane will be responsible for overseeing the full spectrum of technology transfer — including managing intellectual property and technology assets, engaging with researchers for invention disclosures, technology evaluation and marketing, spinout creation and industry engagement.
He will also oversee efforts to guide faculty, post-docs, students and alumni through OIC’s offerings, such as its HITIDE accelerator programme. He will take over from interim director Steve Auerbach.
Deane’s appointment to OIC marks a return to his alma mater: he earned both his MSc and PhD in astrophysics from the University of Hawai’i Institute of Astronomy. Since then, he has worked in technology transfer at institutions including the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the University of Michigan, Purdue University and, since 2015, the University of Oregon.
Deane said: “I’m excited to come back to my alma mater and contribute to the revitalisation of the tech transfer function. Since I graduated, I’ve watched the programme evolve over the years and eagerly awaited the chance to bring to it my experiences and best practices from the other great [Association of American Universities] where I’ve had the privilege to serve.
“I’m just thrilled to help the OIC team to realise the potential in this flagship institution.”
Thierry Heles
Thierry Heles is editor-at-large of Global University Venturing and Global Corporate Venturing, and host of the Beyond the Breakthrough podcast.
