Walter G. Copan Named Brookhaven Lab's Technology Commercialization and Partnerships Manager
March 23, 2010
UPTON, NY — Walter G. Copan, an internationally recognized leader in technology management and commercialization, has been named Office of Technology Commercialization and Partnerships manager at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory, effective March 22.
“I am pleased to join Brookhaven Lab to lead its Office of Technology Commercialization and Partnerships,” Copan said. “The Laboratory, which is known for its world-class science, is seeking to increase the impact of its innovations in the commercial marketplace. It is my honor to represent this DOE lab in building and leveraging partnerships with industry, academia, and government to create economic growth for the benefit of the nation and the world.”
Brookhaven Lab’s Office of Technology Commercialization and Partnerships brings together a diverse array of skills in science, business, marketing, and law to foster intellectual property creation, licensing, business development, collaborations, and new company start-ups built around BNL innovations. The office works closely with other sectors of the Laboratory to achieve results, communicating the market potential of Brookhaven Lab’s inventions, cultivating important business relationships for the Lab, and supporting economic development for the region and the nation.
The Office of Technology Commercialization and Partnerships encourages exchanges of personnel among the Laboratory, industry, and academia, as well as cooperative research efforts with a wide range of partners. Also, industry, university, and government laboratories are invited to use Brookhaven’s premier scientific facilities. The office’s active patent licensing program makes Brookhaven-developed technology available for commercialization.
After earning dual B.S./B.A. degrees in chemistry and music from Case Western University, Copan started his career in chemicals and materials research at Lubrizol Corporation in 1975. He went on to earn a Ph.D. in physical chemistry from Case Western in 1982, while on academic leave from Lubrizol. Copan then rejoined the company, subsequently holding management positions in research and development, strategy, new ventures, and business unit leadership in the U.S. and in the international arena, including managing director, technology transfer and licensing, from 1999-2003. In 2003, he joined DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory as principal licensing executive, technology transfer.
In 2005, Copan moved to Clean Diesel Technologies, Inc., where he was executive vice president and chief technology officer, spearheading the company’s transformation from its research focus to a successful commercial enterprise and subsequent listing on NASDAQ. In 2009, he became managing director at EnergyInsight, a consultancy providing technology commercialization services to the energy and cleantech sectors, and held that position until he came to Brookhaven.
Copan has authored numerous professional publications and presentations, and serves on the boards of directors for several organizations. He is an active member, committee chair, trustee, and officer of the Licensing Executives Society (LES) USA & Canada and LES International. He also served as a member of the National Advisory Council to the U.S. Federal Laboratory Consortium, and he currently contributes to the United Nations and World Intellectual Property Organization programs as an expert on energy and technology transfer issues. Case Western Reserve University named Copan their Distinguished Alumnus of the Year in 2008. His other professional associations include the American Chemical Society, the Association of University Technology Managers, and the National Business Incubation Association.
2010-11101 | INT/EXT | Newsroom
