UT named a new assistant vice president on from discovery to impact team to lead technology transfer efforts, according to a Press release of January 9.
The Discovery to Impact team collaborates with inventors, startups and established companies to bring new products and services to life. Andrew Maas will oversee the University’s efforts to commercialize research and drive innovation in his new role.
“(The team) strives to help our researchers commercialize their ideas and intellectual property,” said Mark Arnold, associate vice president of the team.
Maas, who previously worked at Louisiana State University, said UT’s significant research spending was a key factor in his decision to join the team. UT Austin spent $1.04 billion on research in fiscal year 2023 compared to $488 million from LSU.
Beyond his technical expertise, Maas has a passion for guidance and collaboration, Arnold said.
“(Maas) has a very strong commitment to mentoring students and empowering academic researchers, which is really part of the cornerstone of our organization,” Arnold said.
Maas said he wants the team to connect students with the right mentors to develop their ideas. He said that in the curriculum of some majors, such as those offered by the McCombs School of Business, students have built-in research opportunities and the team can assess their marketability and creativity. He said training programs like the one at the University National Science Foundation Innovation Corps also help student inventors and scientists commercialize their products.
“We really want to move things forward in Austin by bringing technologies out of a premier, world-class research institution to benefit society,” Maas said.