MIT designates Martin Schmidt as head of its industry-focused departments
MIT Professor Martin Schmidt Takes on Dual Leadership Roles
Martin Schmidt, a distinguished professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), is set to take on two key roles within the institution. As of now, Schmidt will lead the Technology Licensing Office (TLO) and the Office of Corporate Relations (OCR), positions that oversee the engagement between MIT researchers and industry partners.
In his capacity as MIT’s Provost, Schmidt has been instrumental in managing the innovation ecosystem, particularly in the areas of technology transfer and licensing activities. He has been instrumental in connecting MIT innovations to the corporate sector, fostering collaboration between academia and industry.
Schmidt's background is primarily in engineering, and he has extensive experience in academic administration and technology innovation. He is recognized for his leadership role at MIT, having served as Provost, and for his initiatives bridging MIT's research with the commercial world.
Beyond his academic pursuits, Schmidt is also a seasoned entrepreneur, co-founding several companies that commercialise products enabled by microelectromechanical systems. He has consulted with industry in the commercialization of technology and is an inventor on over 30 U.S. patents.
Schmidt's academic career at MIT began in 1988, when he joined the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science as a faculty member. He holds a BS degree from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and both his SM and PhD degrees from MIT.
Throughout his career, Schmidt has made significant contributions to the field, co-authoring over 80 journal publications and 120 peer-reviewed conference proceedings. His work at the TLO and OCR will involve managing how MIT’s inventions and research are commercialized and how the university interacts corporately to foster partnerships and entrepreneurship.
The TLO manages the patenting, licensing, trademarking, and copyrighting of intellectual property developed at MIT, while OCR works to foster relationships between companies and MIT. Schmidt's leadership in these offices is expected to further strengthen MIT's position as a global leader in innovation and technology.
Recently, Schmidt served as the faculty lead in the Advanced Manufacturing Partnership, a White House-led task force. His experience as a manufacturing entrepreneur and his work in the Advanced Manufacturing Partnership underscore his commitment to driving innovation and fostering collaboration between academia and industry.
As Schmidt takes on these new roles, he is poised to continue his work in bridging the gap between academia and industry, ensuring that MIT's groundbreaking research continues to have a significant impact on the world.
- Martin Schmidt, as the new leader of MIT's Technology Licensing Office (TLO) and Office of Corporate Relations (OCR), will oversee the interaction between MIT researchers and industrial partners.
- Schmidt's work as Provost has been critical in managing MIT’s innovation ecosystem, focusing on technology transfer and licensing activities.
- With a background in engineering and extensive experience in academic administration and technology innovation, Schmidt is renowned for his bridging role between MIT's research and the commercial world.
- Schmidt, a serial entrepreneur, has co-founded several companies that commercialize products based on microelectromechanical systems and has consulted in the commercialization of technology, with over 30 U.S. patents to his name.
- Schmidt first joined MIT in 1988 as a faculty member in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science; he holds degrees from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and MIT.
- Throughout his career, Schmidt has co-authored over 80 journal publications and 120 peer-reviewed conference proceedings, demonstrating his significant contributions to science.
- In his new roles at TLO and OCR, Schmidt will focus on managing the commercialization of MIT’s inventions and research, as well as strengthening partnerships and entrepreneurship.
- Schmidt's experience as a manufacturing entrepreneur and his work with the White House-led Advanced Manufacturing Partnership highlight his commitment to innovation, education-and-self-development, and fostering collaboration between academia and business.
