Louis Berneman Stepping Down from New Post in Strategic Initiatives

Dr. Louis Berneman has decided to step down from his position as Special Advisor in the Office of Strategic Initiatives (Almanac February 8, 2005) as of August 31, 2005 in order to move into the private sector and work with emerging technologies and start-up companies. Dr. Berneman joined Penn in September 1995 and served as Managing Director of the Center for Technology Transfer (CTT) until February 2005. Over the next several months, Dr. Berneman will be working with Dr. Leslie Hudson, Vice Provost for Strategic Initiatives, to design and develop the business strategy and plans for Penn’s new Entrepreneurship Business Unit. This new Unit will build upon Penn’s substantial efforts and success over the past ten years in converting research capacity into commercial activity.

During his decade of service to Penn, “Dr. Berneman has played a key role in changing the culture at Penn to one that recognizes commercialization as part of the academic research enterprise. As managing director of CTT, Dr. Berneman led the development and transformation of CTT and built the foundation for one of the most productive technology transfer programs in the nation,” said Dr. Hudson.

During his tenure, CTT assessed more than 2,500 new technology disclosures, secured 600 commercialization agreements with companies and helped to launch 70 new start-up ventures based upon Penn technologies. Dr. Berneman also served as president of the Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM) and trustee and vice president of education of the Licensing Executives Society (LES) USA & Canada.

“Dr. Berneman is justifiably proud of what he has helped accomplish for Penn, the region and the technology transfer field. Penn discoveries are the basis of an impressive pipeline of technologies now in commercial development, many of which will reach the marketplace for the public good in the coming years. He feels the time is right for a new challenge and is looking forward to working with Penn in the coming months to analyze our commercialization program and successes, as well as instructive models from other institutions as he helps design Penn’s new Entrepreneurship unit. He is also welcoming the opportunity to take his experience and expertise into the private sector and continue to create wealth, jobs and public benefit from academic discoveries,” said Dr. Hudson.