MIT Deshpande Center for Technological Innovation

MIT Deshpande Center for Technological Innovation
Name	MIT Deshpande Center for Technological Innovation
Formation	2002
Founder	Jaishree Deshpande, Gururaj Deshpande
Location	Cambridge, Massachusetts
Parent organization	Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Website	http://deshpande.mit.edu

MIT Deshpande Center for Technological Innovation. The Deshpande Center is a catalyst within the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's School of Engineering, dedicated to translating groundbreaking academic research into real-world commercial impact. Founded through a philanthropic gift, it provides funding, mentorship, and networking to help MIT researchers advance high-risk, high-reward technologies toward the marketplace. Its programs have supported hundreds of projects, leading to numerous successful startup launches, significant follow-on funding, and widespread recognition for its model of innovation translation.

History and Founding

The center was established in 2002 through a substantial gift from technology entrepreneurs and philanthropists Jaishree Deshpande and Gururaj Deshpande. Its creation was championed by then-Dean of Engineering Thomas L. Magnanti and Provost Robert A. Brown, who later became President of Boston University. The initiative was designed to address the critical "valley of death" funding gap between early-stage academic research and venture capital investment. Inspired by the success of entities like the MIT Media Lab and seeking to strengthen the Massachusetts innovation ecosystem, the center was named in honor of its founding benefactors. Its first director was Charles L. Cooney, a renowned professor of Chemical Engineering at MIT.

Mission and Objectives

The core mission of the Deshpande Center is to accelerate the pace of innovation from MIT laboratories to the global marketplace. Its primary objective is to support research with strong potential for disruptive commercial and societal impact, particularly in fields like biotechnology, advanced materials, information technology, and energy. The center aims to de-risk technologies by providing proof-of-concept grants and hands-on guidance in business development, intellectual property strategy, and market analysis. A key goal is to empower faculty and student researchers to become entrepreneurs, thereby contributing to economic growth and addressing major challenges in healthcare, sustainability, and computing.

Funding and Grant Programs

The center operates primarily through its competitive grant programs, funded by its endowment and contributions from corporate partners and individual donors like the Deshpande Foundation. The flagship **Ignition Grant** provides seed funding for very early-stage, exploratory research to establish initial proof-of-concept. The more substantial **Innovation Grant** supports further development of projects with a clear path toward commercialization. Beyond financial awards, the center's **Catalyst Program** pairs research teams with experienced mentors from the venture capital and entrepreneurial community, including veterans from firms like North Bridge Venture Partners and Polaris Partners. This program facilitates crucial connections with investors and industry leaders at events such as the annual **Catalyst Symposium**.

Notable Projects and Spin-offs

Deshpande Center grants have catalyzed the launch of numerous high-profile companies that have attracted significant follow-on investment. Notable spin-offs include **E Ink Corporation**, the creator of the electronic paper technology used in Amazon's Kindle and other e-readers; **Ambri**, a developer of liquid metal battery technology for grid-scale energy storage founded by Donald Sadoway; and **Sample6**, a biotechnology company focused on food pathogen detection. Other successful ventures include **Eta Devices** in power amplifier efficiency, acquired by Nokia, and **Lantos Technologies**, which revolutionized audiology with 3D ear canal scanning. These companies have collectively raised billions in venture capital from top-tier firms like Kleiner Perkins and Google Ventures.

Impact and Recognition

The impact of the Deshpande Center is measured by its substantial output: over 150 projects funded, leading to more than 50 new companies that have secured over $1.5 billion in outside financing. Its model has been studied and emulated by other academic institutions, including the University of California, Berkeley and the University of Cambridge. The center and its leadership have received accolades such as the **Vision Award for University-Based Entrepreneurship** from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. Its annual symposium is a notable event in the Boston technology calendar, drawing attendees from across the global investment and Silicon Valley communities. The success of its portfolio companies has reinforced MIT's reputation as a premier engine for technological entrepreneurship and economic development.

Organizational Structure

The Deshpande Center is integrated within the MIT School of Engineering and reports to the school's dean. Its operations are guided by a leadership team comprising a faculty director—a position held by professors such as Charles G. Sodini and later Vladimir Bulović—and an executive director overseeing daily operations. Strategic direction is provided by an external **Board of Directors** and an **Advisory Board** composed of seasoned entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, and corporate executives from companies like IBM and Merck & Co.. The center collaborates closely with other MIT resources for entrepreneurship, including the Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship, the MIT Venture Mentoring Service, and the MIT Technology Licensing Office.

Category:Massachusetts Institute of Technology Category:Technology organizations based in Massachusetts Category:Research organizations established in 2002