Founder and Managing Partner: Dr. Abigail Barrow

Thirty years of experience in the support of tech innovation and innovation ecosystems.

Trained in mechanical engineering (B.Sc.) and in economic development/technology transfer (Ph.D.)– both degrees from the University of Edinburgh (UK).

Previous positions include:

UCSD CONNECT at the University of California, San Diego (1990-2001): various roles, including Director of Programs (assisting early-stage tech companies and collaborating in the development of the San Diego area as a leading tech ecosystem).

The von Liebig Center, Jacobs School of Engineering, UCSD: Founding Managing Director (2001-2004).

Massachusetts Technology Transfer Center (MTTC), University of Massachusetts, President’s Office, Boston: Founding Director (2004-2018).

Office of Technology Commercialization and Ventures (OTCV), University of Massachusetts, President’s Office, Boston: Interim Executive Director (2015-2018).

In other capacities, Dr. Barrow is on the Board and is Chair of VentureWell (formerly the National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators Alliance), encouraging and assisting student inventors. Further current and past affiliations include the Program Committee of BIO (the Biotechnology Industry Organization); New York State Energy Research Agency’s Advisory Board for Proof of Concept Centers; reviewer for state and federal agencies for major commercialization program funding awards, as well as for technology development and prototyping grants.

Activities:

At UCSD CONNECT, Dr. Barrow developed a wide range of programs to support early-stage company formation and technology commercialization, mentoring companies in taking next steps to commercial realities and connecting start-up companies with sources of relevant technological and scientific expertise, legal counsel, and government relations. She worked with faculty in developing IP and spin-offs, and was active in launching and managing the mentoring program called Springboard, which assisted hundreds of early-stage companies in pitching their ideas— a program which, together with many other features of UCSD CONNECThas been internationally recognized and successfully replicated in many countries.

As Managing Director of the UCSD von Liebig Center, Dr. Barrow instituted and supervised programs to commercialize academic research in Jacobs School of Engineering— one of the most outstanding and entrepreneurial engineering schools in the US. This was one of the first dedicated Proof of Concept Centers in the US and has been widely regarded as a model for institutions wanting to more actively support technology commercialization. She also oversaw the development of graduate curricula for engineering students interested in entrepreneurial business.

At the MTTC, Dr. Barrow was in charge of the development of all of its programs supporting early-stage companies and scientists at many Massachusetts universities (including MIT, Harvard, and Boston University), hospitals (including the UMass Medical School and hospitals in the Harvard Medical School System), and other research institutions in the commercialization of academic IP. MTTC’s successful Platform programs drew on Dr. Barrow’s extensive experience with the UCSD CONNECT Springboards. MTTC awarded Proof of Concept Grants to researchers at all types of research institutions in the state. MTTC also developed strong working relationships with the Mass Clean Energy Center and managed the Catalyst Awards: over a period of six years just over $4 million in Catalyst Grants were given to early-stage entrepreneurs and researchers, grants which led to over $195 million in follow-on funding.

As Interim Executive Director of the University of Massachusetts OTCV, Dr. Barrow supported technology transfer programs, licensing agreements, and intellectual property management at all five of the UMass campuses, as well as assisting start-up formation, running the UMass Investment Fund, and other system-wide entrepreneurial activities.

Over the past thirty years, Dr. Barrow has acted as consultant on the development of regional innovational ecosystems and the commercialization of research. These include:

  • Serving on the Scientific Advisory Board of Scandinavian national research laboratories and acting as external reviewer for the Norwegian Research Council.
  • Member of an Expert Panel for a White House initiative on commercialization of new technologies.
  • Chairing committee on student IP policy for the Association of University Technology Managers (AUTUM).
  • NIH and NSF reviewer for tech transfer and SBIR programs.
  • She has given invited lectures on aspects of tech transfer and the support of emerging tech companies in France, Italy, Austria, Russia, Norway, Saudi Arabia, Chile, and at many conferences and panels in the US.