Princeton University’s Keller Center in partnership with Princeton’s Office of Technology Licensing hosted the 12th Annual Innovation Forum on February 15th, showcasing the research of Princeton faculty and students. Angel investors, venture capitalists, and the surrounding entrepreneurial community attended the pitch event.
“It was terrific to have such a diversity in the innovations presented at the Forum,” stated Cornelia Huellstrunk, Executive Director of the Keller Center. “The teams did an exceptional job and expertly answered the informed and pointed questions asked by the judging panel.”
The team comprised of Professor Robert K. Prud’homme, Robert Pagels, and Chester Markwalter presenting “Sustained Delivery of Biologics with IFNP” was awarded first place. They developed a technology capable of producing micro-particles highly loaded with biologically-derived drugs.
The three top entries with the greatest potential for commercialization were chosen by a panel of judges comprised of: Jim Cohen, Managing Director of Fitz Gale Ventures, Zac Zeitlin, Managing Partner of New Ground Ventures, Manny Stockman, Associate at Osage Partners, and Walter Egbert, Partner in the Intellectual Property Department of Foley Hoag LLP. The first, second and third place teams shared the $30K in prize money.
A reception following the pitch presentations gave attendees the opportunity to meet one on one with the research teams. This was followed by a keynote talk given by Professor Richard Buchanan, Professor of Design and Innovation at Case Western Reserve University.
“It was very special to have Professor Buchanan give the keynote on “Design, Value Creation and The Products we Love,” Huellstrunk said. “His talk focused on ensuring that any product that is developed is not just feasible, useful but also desirable.”
Professor Buchanan gave a public lecture the following day at Princeton discussing the role of design in the transformation of the liberal arts in the twenty-first century entitled “Design and a Liberal Education”. This is an area of study aligned with Princeton’s commitment to entrepreneurship, design thinking and innovation.
