ARPA-E University is an executive education webinar series that provides the energy technology community with expert insight and practical information to help transition innovations into the marketplace. ARPA-E University webinars are categorized in three ways: Technology, Technology-to-Market, and Office Hours. Technology webinars feature deep dives into specific energy technologies. Technology-to-Market webinars discuss salient topics in commercialization, such as licensing your technology, effective negotiating, and navigating IP strategy. Finally, Office Hours webinars are live Q&A sessions with ARPA-E Program Directors. You can find videos and presentation PDFs from past ARPA-E University webinars below.
To learn about upcoming ARPA-E University events, sign up for ARPA-E's Newsletter.
Topic: Charitable Investment for Energy Innovation 101
Topic Category: Technology-to-Market
Date: 9/26/2016
Presenters:
Nathaniel Gorence, Technology-to-Market Advisor, ARPA-E
David Bank, CEO & Editor of ImpactAlpha
Sarah Kearney, Executive Director, PRIME Coalition
Speaker Bios
Description: This webinar explores a new, potential source of capital for energy technology innovation: charitable investments. Although charitable investments in energy technology companies are still in their infancy, this webinar examines program-related investments (PRIs) and other charitable financing tools that could help support early-stage energy technology entrepreneurs.
Watch Rebroadcast (link is external) | Download Presentation PDF
Other Resources:
• http://primecoalition.org
• http://impactalpha.com/
• http://impactspace.com/
• Stanford Social Innovation Review profiling the Gates Foundation's PRI portfolio:
http://ssir.org/supplement/making_markets_work_for_the_poor
Topic: Strategic Military Partnerships
Presenters:
Dr. Ryan Umstattd, Senior Commercialization Advisor, ARPA-ETom Stepien, CEO, Primus Power
Description: This webinar provided an inside look at how one ARPA-E project team, led by Primus Power, formed a strategic partnership with a major defense contractor to demonstrate its innovative energy storage system. A link to the video recording of this webinar is available upon request to arpa-e_comms@hq.doe.gov.
Topic: ARPA-E Women In Energy Series - Inaugural Webinar
Presenters:
Dr. Cheryl Martin, Acting Director, ARPA-EDr. Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall, Deputy Secretary, U.S. Department of EnergyDr. Ann Lee-Karlon, President, Association for Women in ScienceProfessor Eileen Pollack, University of Michigan
Description: This webinar delves into the current debate on attracting and keeping women in STEM careers.
Watch Rebroadcast | Download Presentation PDF
Other Resources:
- "Why are there still so few women in science?" by Professor Eileen Pollack (New York Times)
- "Science faculty’s subtle gender biases favor male students" by Jo Handelsman (National Academy of Sciences)
- "Your body language shapes who you are" by Amy Cuddy (TEDGlobal 2012)
Topic: The ARPA-E Funding Process
Presenters:
Dr. Eric Rohlfing, Deputy Director for Technology, ARPA-E
Description:This webinar seeks to educate prospective ARPA-E applicants on the ARPA-E Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) process, the types of projects that Agency funds, and how to prepare a Concept Paper and Full Application.
Watch Rebroadcast | Download Presentation PDF
Topic: NSF I-Corps and the Value of Customer Discovery in Research and Development
Topic Category: Technology-to-Market Date: May 6, 2014, 1:00-2:00 p.m. EDTPresenters: Dr. Babu DasGupta, Program Officer, NSF I-CorpsDr. Jonathan Fay, Assistant Professor, University of Michigan Center for Entepreneurship
Description: In early 2013, ARPA-E partnered with the National Science Foundation (NSF) for a pilot program that put several ARPA-E project teams through the rigorous Innovation Corps (I-Corps) program curriculum. I-Corps guides research teams through an iterative customer and business model discovery process aimed at identifying a path to market for early-stage technologies. Join us for an informative discussion about the I-Corps process and its value to researchers. ARPA-E Program Director and Senior Commercialization Advisor Dr. Ilan Gur moderates this session featuring first-hand accounts by Dr. Babu DasGupta, NSF I-Corps Program Officer, and Dr. Jonathan Fay, Assistant Professor at the University of Michigan's Center for Entrepreneurship.
Watch Rebroadcast | Download Presentation PDF
Topic: Introduction to Cost Modeling, Template Overview for Performers
Topic Category: Technology-to-Market
Date: February 12, 2014
Presenter:
Adam Stooke, former ARPA-E Tech-to-Market Team
Description: This edition of ARPA-E University contains helpful advice for performers on an introduction to cost modeling and templates.
Watch Rebroadcast (link is external) | Download Presentation PDF
Topic: Technology Transfer & IP: Lessons Learned from an Academic Entrepreneur
Topic Category: Technology-to-MarketDate: December 12, 2013, 2:00-3:00 p.m. ESTPresenter: Lee Lynd - Professor, Dartmouth College; Co-Founder, Mascoma
Description:A discussion about lessons learned from starting a company while in a university setting, with entrepreneur and Dartmouth College Professor Lee Lynd. Moderated by ARPA-E Technology-to-Market Advisor Josh Gould, this edition of ARPA-E University focuses on how academics build businesses from the ground up, navigating the complexities of the relationship between their intellectual property, their universities, and their financial backers.
Topic: Pathways to Success for ARPA-E Awardees
Topic Category: Technology-to-MarketDate: September 26, 2013, 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. ESTPresenter: Dr. Mark Johnson, former ARPA-E Program Director
Description: Success comes in many forms for ARPA-E's awardees. This edition of ARPA-E University features former ARPA-E Program Director, Dr. Mark Johnson, who will explore these various pathways to success and identify the right ingredients for technical progress. Providing a look back on his time at ARPA-E, Dr. Johnson will offer examples of how past project teams have advanced their technologies along the development cycle, positioning them for critical private-sector funding and invaluable public partnerships that could transform America's energy future. A must-watch for existing awardees, prospective applicants, and anyone looking to learn more about moving new technologies into the marketplace.
Topic: The Energy Technology, Market, and Policy Nexus
Topic Category: Technology-to-Market Date: July 16, 2013, 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. ESTPresenter: Rob Barnett, Bloomberg Government
Description: Deploying new technologies in the energy industry requires an understanding of technical, market, and policy risks. Our next edition of ARPA-E University features Rob Barnett of Bloomberg Government who will explore current policy trends and their impact on the energy industry. Join us for a discussion of how booming domestic energy production, renewable fuels standards, the Clean Air Act, and other factors are shaping energy investments in the United States.
Topic: Creating Successful Teams to Work with DOD
Topic Category: Technology-to-MarketDate: June 19, 2013, 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. EST
Presenter: Deborah Jelen, Executive Director, Electricore
Description: Many energy technology start-ups and small businesses have found it challenging to contract with the Department of Defense (DOD) due to its exacting requirements and procurement processes. Deborah Jelen will discuss Electricore's experience creating successful teams—consisting of private and public sector organizations of all sizes—that have successfully partnered with DOD.
Topic: Licensing 101
Topic Category: Technology-to-MarketDate: April 10, 2013, 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. ESTPresenter: Dr. Karina Edmonds, Technology Transfer Advisor for the Department of Energy
Description: Dr. Edmonds will review the impact of the America Invents Act on licensing, what to expect in a license agreement and their typical monetary terms, and how to meet the licensing needs of start-ups and academics. It builds on the Energy Innovation and IP Strategy session of ARPA-E University that was held in December 2012.
Topic: Dr. Ilan Gur on the AMPED Program
Topic Category: Office Hours Date: April 3, 2013, 1:00 - 1:30 p.m. ESTPresenter: Ilan Gur, Program Director, ARPA-E
Description: ARPA-E University's new "Office Hours" series enables you to interact with ARPA-E Program Directors in a live Q&A session. The inaugural edition of Office Hours will feature ARPA-E Program Director Dr. Ilan Gur and focus on the AMPED (Advanced Management and Protection of Energy Storage Devices) program. To prepare for the discussion and to learn more about AMPED, please check out the recently launched AMPED community newsletter.
Topic: Preparing and Conducting Effective Negotiations
Topic Category: Technology-to-MarketDate: January 22, 2013Presenter: Jeff Weiss, Vantage Parters
Description: Successfully developing and taking new technologies to market requires ongoing negotiation with both colleagues and external parties. Success rests on preparing systematically, negotiating strategically, and reviewing consistently. It also requires a shift from measuring success as getting as close to one’s position as possible to creating optimal value for both parties. Jeff will share a set of methods--road tested and refined over 30 years of research and applied work with the world’s leading companies--for effectively engaging in each of these activities.
Topic: Energy Innovation and IP Strategy
Topic Category: Technology-to-MarketDate: December 12, 2012Presenter: Michael Ward, Partner, Morrison Foerster
Description:There is a lot to consider when building a robust IP strategy. Deciding whether to seek patent protection is a crucial decision for an inventor. Do you know whether your invention is patentable? If so, how do you balance the cost of filing with the breadth of coverage around the world? Michael Ward, a partner at Morrison Foerster, addressed the decision-making process in choosing how to protect an invention. He also discussed the difference between patentability and patent infringement.
Topic: Winning Technical Pitches
Topic Category: Technology-to-MarketDate: October 3, 2012Presenters:Dane Boysen, Program Director, ARPA-EIlan Gur, Program Director, ARPA-E
Description: Funding applications often require something shorter than a research paper, but more substantive than a business pitch—you need a technical pitch. ARPA-E Program Directors Dane Boysen and Ilan Gur share their five best practices and five deadly sins for writing technical proposals. Participants will also learn about ARPA-E’s mission and unique role in funding energy innovation. While the webinar uses concepts from the ARPA-E funding selection process, the proposal strategies are applicable to anyone attempting to communicate complex technical information in a short format.
Topic: Telling Your Story: Successful Presentation Techniques
Topic Category: Technology-to-MarketDate: July 31, 2012Presenter: David Merkoski, Partner, Greenstart
Description: From the elevator pitch to your TED talk, the difference between success and failure often depends on the story you tell and how you tell it. David's session will focus on honing your message to connect with any audience and leave a lasting impression in their minds.
Topic: The Scientific Method for Getting Technology to Market
Topic Category: Technology-to-Market
Date: June 21, 2012Presenter: Steve Blank, serial entrepreneur
Description: Great technologies don't automatically attract users and thrive in the real world. Successful entrepreneur and professor Steve Blank will show how hypothesis-driven discovery and experimentation can turn your innovations into successful products with societal impact. Learn how to hone in on the true value of your technology through early and effective engagement with customers, and see why Silicon Valley startups, corporations like GE, and the National Science Foundation have adopted this methodology to advance their leading innovations.
Topic: Demystifying Money: The Many Sources of Capital
Topic Category: Technology-to-MarketDate: May 30, 2012Presenter: Matthew Nordan, Vice President, Venrock Capital
Description: Taking technology to the next level means navigating a confusing range of financing options: venture capital, angel investors, government grants, bank loans, and many more. Lux Research founder and venture investor Matthew Nordan explains the different types of capital available to early stage technologists, what each looks for to make an investment decision, and what they want in return.