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The gulf between scientific innovation and market development
STUCK IN THE VALLEY OF DEATH
Dr. David M. Smith
Arbeitsgruppenleiter “DNA Nano-systeme”
Fraunhofer Institute für Zelltherapie & Immunologie
Leipzig, Deutschland
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OUTLINE
Personal introduction – my path to applied biosciences
Valley of death for scientific innovation
The mindset for innovation
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EARLY LIFE & EDUCATION
1977 - Born in Dallas
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EARLY LIFE & EDUCATION
1977 - Born in Dallas
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EARLY LIFE & EDUCATION
1977 - Born in Dallas
Physics/philosophy – UT Austin
1998 – physics??
1999 – biophysics research
Applied science: more trouble than it’s worth
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RELOCATION TO GERMANY
Graduate studies @ Uni-Leipzig
Continued allergy to applied science
PhD work – esoteric
Horror show of colleagues
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STEP TOWARDS APPLIED SCIENCE
Post-doc @ LMU München
DNA Nanotechnology – implied promise
Adjustment
Excitement
Frustration
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APPLIED BIONANOSCIENCE
Fraunhofer Gesellschaft (Feb. 2013)
Cell Therapy & Immunology (IZI)
Europe’s biggest organization for applied research
Best of both worlds
Research
Framework for implementation
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THE VALLEY OF DEATH
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THE VALLEY OF DEATH
Gap between invention and real-world implementation
High risk, high cost, long timescales
Applicable to all commercial areas
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THE VALLEY OF DEATH
Gap between invention and real-world implementation
High risk, high cost, long timescales
Applicable to all commercial areas
Commercialization of scientific discovery
Translational research
“From bench to bedside”
B. Mellor, Nature 2008
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PITFALLS IN TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH
Gaps in critical expertise
Contradicting priorities
Ineffective communication with targets
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GAPS IN CRITICAL EXPERTISE
Early stages of development are fragile
Limited financial resources
Impatient investors
Financial instability of founders/employees
Major delays or technical mistakes can be fatal
The right expertise are crucial for each stage of development
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GAPS IN CRITICAL EXPERTISE
Example: early cancer diagnostic vs. garage startup
Investment without proper knowledge base
Inability to develop basic prototype
Failure within 2 years
Clear view of what skillsets are needed and when they are needed
Roadmap of expertise
Avoid hubris – you don’t know everything
Contracting needed skills can be the difference
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CONTRADICTING PRIORITIES
Different backgrounds + different viewpoint varying goals
Are goals of critical partners & contributors compatible?
Different doesn’t have to mean conflicting
Incompatible priorities create deadlock
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CONTRADICTING PRIORITIES
Example: Publish vs. Patent
Publish: scientific achievement judged on publication record
Patent: protection of intellectual property essential for investors
Example: Early cancer diagnostic vs. established giant
Scientists: novel, high-impact discovery
Industry: nuts & bolts of marketable product
Never assume all critical partners have the same vision
Resolve incongruities before they become destructively incompatible
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INEFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION WITH TARGETS
Every step of translation/development has a target audience
Investors
Partners/collaborators
Regulators
Customers
Each target wants something different
Failure to communicate appropriately can be fatal
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INEFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION WITH TARGETS
Example: scientists communicating with non-scientists
What’s the big picture?
Message lost in technical details
Tailor message to your target
Know your audience
“cheating” is OK
Pick 1-2 focal points based on their perspective
Build message around these points
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THE MINDSET FOR INNOVATION
Interaction – search creativity away from your field
Integration – exercise the cognitive muscle
The spark
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INTERACTION: SEEK OUTSIDERS
Explanation forces re-examination
Others’ qualification/ignorance new viewpoints
Creativity chain reaction
Unexpected insights dopamine stimulation creative spark
Bonus: not feeding potential competitors
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TRAINING: INTEGRATION OF IDEAS
The low-lying fruit has been picked
Innovation lies in cross-section of fields
Biomedical meets nanotechnology
Social media meets video streaming
Cognitive pathways in ideation are like a muscle
Training: integrative brainstorming
Create a project idea from 2-3 unrelated scientific papers
…or otherwise unconnected business/sites/etc
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VOODOO: FINDING YOUR SPARK
Great ideas come in all locations and situations
Always be ready – writing leaves a lasting impression
Keep a catalogue, know which situations work for you
You can’t force creativity but you can repeat the conditions
A drink or two never hurts
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TO THE POINT
Avoiding the valley of death
Critical expertise
Compatible priorities
Targeted communication
Tips for creative innovation
Interaction
Integration
Know your spark
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QUESTIONS?
