T-I JOURNAL19 2

TRANSFORMATIVE BUSINESS STUDIES 547



Table 3:. Characteristics of Subsystem 3 Biogas for Public Transportation
Actor Current business logic Risks and uncertainties related Change in the business model
to joining ecosystem
Truck • Fuel is a significant • Investment into gas-driven • Gas-driven trucks are not
operators operational cost trucks is larger than into sold in the focal municipality
• Green image is important diesel trucks due to the absence of fuel
• Drive locally but can transfer • Uncertainty about biogas • Possible: charging more for
vehicles to other cities where technology: maintenance the ‘green service’
they operate costs and reliability
• Uncertainty about fuel: price
and availability of biogas
• Second-hand risk of owning
gas trucks
• Limitations of operating buses
to the locations where gas is
available

Truck • Gas-driven trucks are not • Investment in gas truck • Sales of trucks together with
dealers sold in the focal municipality maintenance infrastructure is maintenance agreement,
due to the absence of fuel feasible only if large number of leasing option, and long-term
trucks is served, i.e., is sold in fuel guarantee from the
the first place biogas distributor
Integrator • Investment into distribution • Long-term contracts for biogas
infrastructure will not be supply at fixed price
recouped if high enough • Low-emission (CO2 and NOx),
consumption volumes are locally produced fuel compared
not ensured to diesel

Considering a business ecosystem to be a system from farming’ and ‘biomass from waste management.’
in general, it can be seen as a set of interconnected Each module had a specific business logic, includ-
functional modules that together produce a system ing value-creation logic and benefit sharing among
output and certain value to the end-user or society. participants (step 2), which made it distinct from
Depending on how well they are connected and fit another. For instance, while biomass obtained from
through interfaces, and what kind of elements fulfill farming would be of good quality but would cost (step
the functions, the output is produced in a more or 2), the biomass from waste management would have
less efficient manner. Companies, and other mar- a negative price (step 2). Thus, the approach towards
ket actors, by employing their business models and incentivizing respective actors to become biomass
technologies, fulfill the functions. The structure of suppliers in the biogas-for-traffic ecosystem would
current business ecosystems can be analyzed, and differ.
a new, improved structure can be proposed based The development of incentivizing mechanisms
on the analysis of inefficiencies and missing inter- is the next step that aims at attracting the critical
faces among functional modules. Most often, the actors in the business ecosystem. These mecha-
boundaries of the modules change, i.e., new actors are nisms are designed (step 2) based on the logic of
introduced, others are removed, and new interfaces each functional module (step 1). The research done
among the companies are needed. in the biogas-for-traffic case allowed not only the
In the biogas-for-traffic case, such modules development of context-specific mechanisms but
included, for example, a number of biogas con- also the formulation of more generalized and thereby
sumption modules (step 1): ‘biogas for public transferrable principles of enrolling actors in busi-
transportation,’ ‘biogas for delivery business,’ and ness ecosystems. The example of providing a lifecycle
‘biogas for individual users.’ A number of biomass solution instead of just a technological product to
supply modules were also identified (step 1): ‘biomass customers in the face of uncertainty (discussed in

548 GUSTAFSSON & TSVETKOVA



section 4) is one such mechanism. The development Case 1 Unmanned ships: Unmanned ships could sig-
of an alliance of critical actors who can fairly share nificantly lower freight costs and emissions as well as
the benefits of the total ecosystem working more reduce accidents since sea freight is an accident-prone
efficiently is another example of an incentivizing industry. However, the incumbent business models
mechanism (step 2), one which was later applied in in sea freight do not enable a profitable investment in
a short sea shipping ecosystem development project unmanned ships. To achieve that goal, the business
(see case 3 below). ecosystem was redesigned through redefining the
Due to modular design (step 1), it is possi- business models for key stakeholders and by coor-
ble to replicate the business ecosystems. In the dinating the strategies of how the new earning logic
biogas-for-traffic case, for example, it proved to be of the ecosystem could be implemented.
necessary to extend the biogas-for-traffic business Case 2 Flexible power generation: The increase in
to other cities in Finland so that a reliable and con- wind and solar power has changed the earning logic
venient fueling network could be formed. For this, of energy systems, putting a premium on cost-effi-
the cooperation models between the biogas com- cient flexibility instead of high-efficiency continuous
pany, biomass suppliers, and biogas consumers (step load (40). However, the incumbent business models,
2) could be conceptually copied (step 3) in those and investment models in power generation in par-
locations with the necessary adjustments (step 1), ticular, made an investment into flexible technology
i.e., replicated. This is possible due to the form in unprofitable. The business ecosystem and the invest-
which actionable knowledge produced within DSR ment model was therefore redesigned. Specifically,
is recorded. The solution is described together with a new division of roles in the investment structure
the problems that it solves and the mechanisms that was established, which enabled a better allocation of
make this solution work for these specific problems. risks and rewards and a more efficient employment
Then, in new contexts, it is possible to identify which of capital. The solution enables the introduction of
problems actually need to be solved and, thus, which technology that reduces system emissions. The need
incentivizing mechanisms need to be applied in order for state subsidies is also reduced since such a division
to align the incentives of the stakeholders. of value creation and capturing is established that all
The final step is the development of a bound- the key actors required for a functioning solution get a
ary-spanning business model that is based on the share of the improved performance on a system level.
results of the previous steps. This is especially relevant
for companies that attempt to become ‘ecosystem Case 3 Short sea shipping: Short sea shipping is today
integrators,’ i.e., the ones that integrate the whole highly inefficient in terms of current market condi-
business ecosystem and, through various incen- tion capacity utilization. The utilization rate of vessels
tivizing mechanisms, change the business models is 35% to 40% due to long stays in port (40% of the
of other actors (step 4). It is not always clear who total time) and sailing empty (20% to 25% of the
would become such an integrator, and, in subsequent total time). This results in low profitability and high
projects, it was often the case that a consortium of freight costs. By redefining the division of roles and
interested actors would form a strong player capable responsibilities in operative logistics planning and in
of altering the ways of working and the value-creation the planning of infrastructure investments, a more
structure of a whole business ecosystem. productive ecosystem with a higher, more effective
This method for designing business ecosystems utilization of the capital employed can be attained
has been and is being used successfully in a number of (the actual launch is taking place as of writing). Emis-
consulting projects. It has proven especially suitable sions also sank partly because of the higher utilization
in two types of situations: enabling a new technology rate but also because the new division of roles and
to enter the market and changing the earning logic responsibilities enabled business models based on
of an industry so that it becomes more productive more efficient technologies and operations (49,50).
(partly by adopting new technologies). The continued application of the research method-
ology for transformative business studies described

TRANSFORMATIVE BUSINESS STUDIES 549



in this paper, which is based on DSR, participative any business ecosystem, it was difficult to formulate
research, and actor-network theory, benefits the com- clear and universally applicable rules. Instead, the
panies to which it is applied. It also contributes to knowledge was documented as actionable rules of
research by facilitating continued research on the thumb, which included not only the solution but
subject and further refinement of the model. The also the identified problems that led to this solution.
collaboration between researchers and consultants The transformative business study undertaken by
is central here. The more the consultants apply the the researchers needed to be based on DSR, partic-
method, the more they will be able to point to weak- ipatory research, and actor-network-theory. Since
nesses and possible improvements. the solution did not exist beforehand, we relied on
The key element is the focus on and creation of DSR to outline the goal to be achieved. Participatory
actionable knowledge. Redesigning an ecosystem research allowed better access to most sensitive chal-
does not mean publishing a report that only outlines lenges that would otherwise be undiscoverable. This
how to carry out the change. The method includes is because organizations are primarily interested in
the actual change by producing context-specific having their problems solved and operations and
actionable knowledge since it is only when actually competitive posture improved. They are not inter-
applying the recommendations, and the variations ested in producing some general knowledge that
of the recommendations and so on, that you can say relates to some abstract problem. This means you
what knowledge triggered action. This means pro- get better access if you approach them with problem
ducing knowledge that compels the key stakeholders solvers (consultants), but you get better results if you
in a business ecosystem to act in a way that brings include problem identifiers in the team (researchers).
about the new way of working, essentially changing This is the way it works in medicine, and a similar
the behaviors in the marketplace. The knowledge logic can be applied in the social sciences as well.
compels these key stakeholders to act in a certain way The reliance on actor-network theory, in turn, was
much like the axioms laid out by Suh et al. (51) com- necessary for rooting the solution deeply within the
pel designers and managers to design products in a specific context and understanding the more tacit
certain way because not doing so would be irrational. interdependencies among different factors affecting
The fact that the case described is closely con- the logic of a business ecosystem. Figure 4 illustrates
nected with innovation is not a coincidence. PBI, in the iterative steps of the process. The dotted lines
collaboration with ÅAU, has previously created meth- indicate situations where you revert back because
ods for managing trust in B2B relations and methods the solution does not hold.
for pricing services based on their value added, to It is indeed more challenging to attempt to explore
name a few (44,45). In both cases, the research pro- such wide research topics as design of business eco-
cess developed according to the above steps so that systems, especially sustainable ecosystems. Choosing
the symptoms were studied, the problem identified, such a research goal, in turn, leads to research results
and, subsequently, a solution that was turned into a that are difficult to formulate, present, and transfer
service was produced (in these two cases, a web-based for practical use. However, the social significance
service with analysis support). of such results tends to be greater, which makes the
journey worth the effort. Close collaboration between
CONCLUSION research and practice as well as conceptualization
We developed a method for designing business and application means we simultaneously transform
ecosystems that addresses complex and uncertain the idea of how things work and what to do about it.
phenomena. The challenge was to create and for- By employing the transformative business research
mulate the knowledge in such a manner that it is methodology presented in this paper, we believe it is
possible to transfer it to business application, i.e., possible to conduct complex social and organizational
make it a tool for solving similar challenges in the research that can be systematically transferred to real-
future. Given the complexity, uncertainty, and depen- life applications for society’s benefit. As stated in the
dence on the context when designing or transforming beginning, transformative business studies focus on

550 GUSTAFSSON & TSVETKOVA



Design Solving Implementation
proposition challenges


What are the drawbacks Are the key actors
Participative of the solution? How to ready to commit to
Research What is the problem? solve them? implementing the
solution?





How should the solution
What could be the What are steps for
Design Science solution to the original be updated based on implementing the
Research problem? new knowledge of the solution?
context?






Actor-Network: How are phenomena Is the solution more How to ensure
Controversy related to the problem stable? commitment of key
Mapping and potential solution actors?
connected?

Figure 4. The epistemological steps of Transformative Business Studies.

the real-life challenges in society and finding out how to be discovered. For research financiers, it offers a
they could be solved. Not all problems are related to better return on the money invested.
business practices, but business studies should try Since the method focuses on actual problems, it
to identify the ones that can be solved through new does not exclude any school of thought beforehand.
business practices. This can be done by striving to We believe firmly that just as there are problems that
solve the problems and identify what solves them and are best solved through theories from medicine, tech-
what does not. Based on this, one contributes to the nology, or business studies, there are also those that
greater good of society by distilling that knowledge can be solved with the help of theories found in the
and making the knowledge transferable. humanities. We propose that further research needs
We recommend this methodology for researchers, to focus on applying the methodology for transfor-
practitioners, and financiers. For researchers, basing mative business studies in other contexts and further
the research on an existing practical problem can elaborating on methods related to it.
be rewarding both from a substance and a financial
point of view. It also enhances theory development, ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
as theory, in this case, is defined by the problem it We wish to cordially acknowledge the financial
solves or contributes to solving. The solution is in the support provided by DIMECC (Digital, Internet,
problem. For practitioners, transformative business Materials & Engineering Co-Creation) within the
studies bring a fresh perspective to daily problems REBUS (Towards Relational Business Practices) pro-
and allow them to interact with researchers com- gram, Project 2 Logistics Networks, and Tekes (the
mitted to solving the problem by means that can be Finnish Funding Agency for Innovation) within the
found in extant theoretical knowledge or that are yet RECO (Redesigning Ecosystems) project.

TRANSFORMATIVE BUSINESS STUDIES 551



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31. Woodard C. Growing greener industries. Chron lems. J Soc Issues. 1946;2(4):34–46.
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33. Putnam H. The many faces of realism. La Salle 46. Clark AW. Action research: theory, practice, and
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34. Susman GI, Evered RD. An assessment of the 47. Gummesson E. Qualitative methods in man- The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) conducted its 4 Annual National
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scientific merits of action research. Adm Sci Q. agement research. Thousand Oaks (CA): Sage Summer Teacher Institute (NSTI) on Innovation, STEM, and Intellectual Property July 16-21,
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1978;23(4):582–603. Publications; 2000. in the program, which was offered in collaboration with the University of Denver’s Project
35. Law J. Actor network theory and material semi- 48. Schein EH. From brainwashing to organization X-ITE Team — a catalyst for the intersection of innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship.
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Blackwell; 2009. p. 141–58. ström K. Revolutionizing short sea shipping:
36. Callon M. Some elements of a sociology of positioning report. Turku (Finland): Åbo Aka-
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editor. Power, action and belief: a new sociology Keltaniemi A, Nokelainen T, Sifontes Herrera
of knowledge? London (England): Routledge & V. Positioning report: analysis of the current The United States Patent and Trademark Office open to elementary, middle, and high school teachers
th
Kegan Paul; 1986. p. 196-233. shipping industry structure and a vision for a (USPTO) conducted its 4 Annual National Summer from across the nation in an effort to help inspire
37. Latour B. Reassembling the social: an introduc- renewed shipping industry ecosystem. Turku Teacher Institute (NSTI) on Innovation, STEM, and and motivate America’s young innovators, entrepre-
tion to actor-network theory. London (England): (Finland): Åbo Akademi University; 2015. Intellectual Property July 16-21, 2017, in Denver, neurs, and “makers.” Led by the USPTO’s Office of
Oxford University Press; 2005. 51. Suh NP. On an axiomatic approach to manufac- Colorado. Over 50 teachers from across the nation Education and Outreach, the program is designed
38. Coghlan D. Interlevel dynamics in clinical turing and manufacturing systems. J Eng Ind. were selected to take part in the program, which to introduce concepts of IP protection, innovation,
inquiry. J Organ Chang Manag. 2000;13:190–200. 1978;100:127–130. was offered in collaboration with the University of entrepreneurship, and STEM to elementary, middle,
39. Schein EH. Legitimating clinical research in the 52. Gustafsson M. Att leverera ett kraftverk förtro- Denver’s Project X-ITE Team — a catalyst for the and high school teachers in order to incorporate the
study of organizational culture. J Couns Dev. ende, kontrakt och engagemang i internationell intersection of innovation, technology, and entre- concepts of making, inventing, and innovation into
1993;71:703–708. projektindustri [To deliver a power plant: trust, preneurship. classroom instruction. The purpose of NSTI is to
40. Reason P, Kingdom U, Torbert WR, Hill C. The contract, and commitment in the international help teachers harness the innovative potential of their
action turn. Concepts and Transformation. project industry] [dissertation]. Turku (Finland): PROGRAM BACKGROUND students in order to make American students more
2001;6(1):1–37. Åbo Akademi University; 2002. NSTI is a week-long innovation and entrepre- competitive and improve the lives and opportunities
41. Reason P. Pragmatist philosophy and action 53. Reen N. The pricing of industrial services [dis- neurial boot camp focused on science, technology, available to people across the U.S. The methods used
research: readings and conversation with Rich- sertation]. Turku (Finland): Åbo Akademi engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and intellec- in the program include experiential training tools and
ard Rorty. Action Res. 1(1):103-123;2003. University; 2014.
tual property (IP) principles for K-12 educators. It is practices as well as project-based learning models.

_____________________
Accepted: July 3, 2017.
Address correspondence to Philippa Olsen, Senior Marketing and Communications Specialist, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, 600 Dulany Street,
Alexandria, VA 22314, USA. E-mail: [email protected]


553

Technology and Innovation, Vol. 19, pp. 553-556, 2017 ISSN 1949-8241 • E-ISSN 1949-825X
Printed in the USA. All rights reserved. http://dx.doi.org/10.21300/19.2.2017.553
Copyright © 2017 National Academy of Inventors. www.technologyandinnovation.org








TEACHERS INCORPORATING INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

INTO K-12 CURRICULA



Philippa Olsen
United States Patent and Trademark Office, Office of the Chief Communications Officer, Alexandria, Virginia, USA


The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) conducted its 4 Annual National
th
Summer Teacher Institute (NSTI) on Innovation, STEM, and Intellectual Property July 16-21,
2017, in Denver, Colorado. Over 50 teachers from across the nation were selected to take part
in the program, which was offered in collaboration with the University of Denver’s Project
X-ITE Team — a catalyst for the intersection of innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship.
Key words: Patents; Intellectual property; Education; USPTO







The United States Patent and Trademark Office open to elementary, middle, and high school teachers
(USPTO) conducted its 4 Annual National Summer from across the nation in an effort to help inspire
th
Teacher Institute (NSTI) on Innovation, STEM, and and motivate America’s young innovators, entrepre-
Intellectual Property July 16-21, 2017, in Denver, neurs, and “makers.” Led by the USPTO’s Office of
Colorado. Over 50 teachers from across the nation Education and Outreach, the program is designed
were selected to take part in the program, which to introduce concepts of IP protection, innovation,
was offered in collaboration with the University of entrepreneurship, and STEM to elementary, middle,
Denver’s Project X-ITE Team — a catalyst for the and high school teachers in order to incorporate the
intersection of innovation, technology, and entre- concepts of making, inventing, and innovation into
preneurship. classroom instruction. The purpose of NSTI is to
help teachers harness the innovative potential of their
PROGRAM BACKGROUND students in order to make American students more
NSTI is a week-long innovation and entrepre- competitive and improve the lives and opportunities
neurial boot camp focused on science, technology, available to people across the U.S. The methods used
engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and intellec- in the program include experiential training tools and
tual property (IP) principles for K-12 educators. It is practices as well as project-based learning models.

_____________________
Accepted: July 3, 2017.
Address correspondence to Philippa Olsen, Senior Marketing and Communications Specialist, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, 600 Dulany Street,
Alexandria, VA 22314, USA. E-mail: [email protected]


553

554 OLSEN



IP AND INNOVATION CONCEPTS USPTO and innovation professionals from industry,
The central focus of this year’s institute was on academia, and government agencies. At the culmi-
the creation and protection of IP, which includes nation, teams pitched their inventions to a panel
inventions, knowledge discovery, creative ideas, of esteemed judges led by Molly Kocialski, director
and expressions of the human mind that may have of the Rocky Mountain Regional Office in Denver,
commercial value and are protectable under patent, Colorado. The week concluded with a field trip to the
trademark, copyright, or trade secret laws. IP was National Renewable Energy Labs in Golden, Colo-
modeled as both a teaching and learning platform rado, where teachers got a special tour of the labs and
to help inspire and motivate student achievement in shared opportunities and strategies for implementing
STEM disciplines, computer science, and other fields the skills and knowledge they learned at NSTI to
of study such as innovation and entrepreneurship. further inspire student learning about IP, innovation,
and entrepreneurship.
TEACHER ACTIVITIES SPEAKERS
Teachers at this year’s institute learned about
patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets Distinguished speakers at this year’s institute
and took part in a wide range of specially designed, included notable inventors, entrepreneurs, and repre-
sentatives from nonprofits, education, and the private
hands-on activities ideally suited for teaching youth sector.
about IP, innovation, and entrepreneurship. Teachers
collaborated to seek innovative solutions to a broad • Steve Katsaros, CEO and founder of Nokero
set of problems ranging from food and cooking to • Jacquelyn Ros, CEO and founder of Revolar
sports, design, and saving planet Earth. Teams were • Ruthe Farmer, chief evangelist at the Computer
supported by IP subject matter experts from the Science for All Consortium




































Figure 1. Teachers work on hands-on activities at the 2017 National Summer Teacher Institute. Photo courtesy of USPTO.

INCORPORATING IP INTO K-12 CURRICULA 555



• Steve Davee, author, educator, and “Maker” Doug is also a master teacher in the Lemelson-MIT
evangelist Program, which awards grants to schools each year
• Mark Miano, executive editor from NBC Learn to help students and their teachers use innovation
• Avis Frazier-Thomas, vice president and intel- and invention to solve problems in their communi-
lectual property counsel for Warner Brothers ties. Doug helps teachers apply for the grants, and
Entertainment he assists them and their students throughout the
• Dr. Richard Charles, STEM director for the invention process.
Cherry Creek School District, Colorado Doug decided to apply to attend the NSTI after
• Eric Payne, senior licensing executive at the working with a group of students who were submit-
National Renewable Energy Laboratory ting a patent application. He wanted to help them and
• Dr. Leslie Flynn and Dawn Bowlus, University become more knowledgeable about inventions and
of Iowa Jacobson Institute for Youth Entrepre- patents, and NSTI presented the perfect opportunity.
neurship Today, Doug has made what he learned at NSTI part
of his curriculum.
SPOTLIGHT ON DOUG SCOTT “When you add invention to the mix, it
Doug Scott attended NSTI in 2014 and served brings something unique for students. When you
as a teacher ambassador at this year’s institute. He bring in IP, it makes them think in a different way.
currently heads the Department of Technology and When you have a student identify a problem, develop
Engineering for Hopkinton Public Schools in Mas- a solution and determine how to protect and market
sachusetts and teaches engineering and robotics to it, it makes them think about the whole innovation
students at Hopkinton High School. and entrepreneurship process.”





































Figure 2. Teachers work on hands-on activities at the 2017 National Summer Teacher Institute. Photo courtesy of USPTO.

556 OLSEN



In 2014, Doug’s Natick High School Lemel- her school. For example, she has added maker spaces
son-MIT InvenTeam filed a patent application for to her library — areas where students can tinker and
their ice search and rescue vehicle. The team pre- create. Maker spaces have no instructions. They are
sented their invention to President Obama during organic environments where students can be cre-
the 2014 White House Science Fair. Through Doug’s ative. At a school with over 400 students, located in
efforts, that same year, he received the Massachusetts a county with one of the highest rates of poverty in
STEM Teacher of the Year Award. In December 2016, Georgia, it is imperative to expose kids to making
the Natick team was issued U.S. patent 9,511,833 B2. and let them see themselves as makers, innovators,
At this year’s NSTI, Doug was joined by his former and inventors — as producers, not just consumers.
st
student Ford Grundberg, now Airman 1 Class in the This leads to creating a safe space for students, where
U.S. Air Force, who shared a powerful and emotional they are comfortable asking questions and they are
story about how his experience as a student inventor open to possibilities.
under the tutelage of Doug Scott changed his outlook Today, Yolanda encourages her students to ask
on life. questions. Growing up in a large family in rural Mis-

sissippi, she understands the attitude some students
SPOTLIGHT ON YOLANDA PAYNE have that they should be quiet and make do in school.
Yolanda Payne is a media specialist at H.B. Stroud She wants her students to feel empowered and realize
Elementary School in Athens, Georgia, and attended that they are full of possibility, despite their circum-
NSTI in 2015. During her time at NSTI, Yolanda stances, just as she was.
appreciated the opportunity to be around like- This year, Yolanda hopes to introduce an Inven-
minded people. “When you are an educator, it can tion Convention to her school. She wants kids to
be isolating because you go into your classroom or realize the validity of their ideas and understand that
office and focus on your area. Through NSTI, I was innovation and invention do not have to cost a lot.
able to meet other educators who are as passionate A notebook, gel pens, and colored pencils are often
about their students’ learning as I am.” all that is needed to get started.
One activity the teachers participated in was an
Invention Challenge, in which they were divided into
teams to create an invention that was commercially FUTURE WORK
th
viable or useful. Yolanda’s team created a product The USPTO will soon be planning the 5 Annual
they named the Maker Mod, a cabinet with a table National Summer Teacher Institute, including
that can be folded up or down with different shelving dates and location. Please visit the NSTI website
options. The team has kept in touch after NSTI and (https:// www.uspto.gov/ learning-and-resources/
even filed a provisional application for a patent on outreach-and-education/national-summer-teach-
their project. er-institute) for more detailed information regarding
With her new perspective, Yolanda has used what National Summer Teacher Institute, eligibility require-
she learned at NSTI to make some tangible changes at ments, and selection process.

Technology and Innovation, Vol. 19, pp. 557-564, 2017 ISSN 1949-8241 • E-ISSN 1949-825X
Printed in the USA. All rights reserved. http://dx.doi.org/10.21300/19.2.2017.557
Copyright © 2017 National Academy of Inventors. www.technologyandinnovation.org




THE NAI FELLOW PROFILE: AN INTERVIEW WITH
DR. ESTHER TAKEUCHI


1,2
Esther Takeuchi and Kimberly A. Macuare 3
1 Materials Science and Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
2 Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY, USA
3 National Academy of Inventors, Tampa, FL, USA

In a recent interview with T&I, acclaimed inventor and research scientist Dr. Esther Takeuchi
offered penetrating insights on the critical challenges we face in energy consumption, discussed
what makes a great innovator, and shared what it means to have been responsible for saving
millions of lives as a result of her research work.





INTRODUCTION
Technology and Innovation (T&I) is pleased to
present Dr. Esther Takeuchi—distinguished professor,
prolific inventor, and one of the world’s leading energy
research scientists—as the subject of this issue’s NAI
Fellow Profile. Takeuchi holds an appointment at
Brookhaven National Lab and is Distinguished Pro-
fessor of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering
and leader of the Advanced Power Sources Research
Group at Stony Brook University.
After receiving her Ph.D. in organic chemistry
from The Ohio State University and doing postdoc-
toral work at The University of North Carolina at
Chapel Hill and the State University of New York at
Buffalo, Takeuchi accepted a job at Greatbatch, Inc.,
the company founded by pacemaker creator Wil-
son Greatbatch. It was here that she began her work
on medical device batteries, research that has led to
worldwide acclaim for her and life-changing impacts
(photo courtesy of Esther Takeuchi)
_____________________
Accepted: July 3, 2017.
Profiled Inventor: Esther Takeuchi, Ph.D., Advanced Energy Research and Technology Center, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA. Tel: +1 (631) 216-7414;
E-mail: [email protected]
®
Corresponding Author: Kimberly A. Macuare, Ph.D., Associate Editor, Technology and Innovation, Journal of the National Academy of Inventors
at the USF Research Park, 3702 Spectrum Boulevard, Suite 165, Tampa, FL 33612, USA. Tel: +1 (813) 974-1347.
E-mail: [email protected]

557

558 THE NAI PROFILE THE NAI PROFILE 559



for the millions whose lives have been saved by her INTERVIEW the lifetimes of the batteries are expected to be so That’s how I ended up in science and specifically
work. As a professor, first at the University of Buffalo T&I: Please tell us about some of the current projects long. Thus, the cause of the inefficiency is different, in batteries.
and now at Stony Brook, she has continued her work you are working on. but the problem is equally significant. T&I: That’s one of the beauties of innovation. It’s
on power sources and is widely recognized as a leader T&I: Looking at your body of research and consid- one of those things that seems simple but behind
in cutting-edge energy research. Takeuchi’s various Takeuchi: My research focus is energy storage, spe- ering your career, it is clear to see you have a passion it are complexities and challenges that people don’t
groundbreaking discoveries and over 150 patents cifically battery systems. What we’re interested in for science. What early experiences influenced you even imagine.
have earned her numerous major awards and acco- is understanding what limits the practical energy to pursue a career in science? And, having settled
lades, including the National Medal of Technology delivery from the battery—meaning that there is a on science, what prompted you to choose batteries Takeuchi: It’s funny you say that because I’ve taught
theoretical number that we can calculate that should
a class, junior and senior undergraduates, for sev-
and Innovation, induction into the National Inven- be available, but, in a practical sense, it isn’t. We’re as a research area? eral years, and occasionally I have a student who
tors Hall of Fame, and election to the U.S. National studying the transport properties of ions and elec- Takeuchi: I have two different answers. I think as says “What’s the big deal? Batteries are old. What’s
Academy of Engineering and the National Academy trons within the battery, trying to understand why regards a career in science, I really credit my parents, there left to invent?” The answer is that there’s still so
of Inventors. we don’t we get the theoretical number. Once we maybe specifically my father, to my general pursuit much left to invent, and the complexities grow rather
Takeuchi’s research has focused on energy storage, understand the causes, we can change the materials of the field. My father was an electrical engineer, than shrink as you try to go to bigger and bigger
primarily in the development of batteries for myriad and the battery to make it better. and, as a small child, I liked following my father challenges. There are still many activities and many
applications, including medical, transportation, and T&I: What kinds of applications grow out of this around. I can only imagine what it was like having patents being filed, so there’s significant innovation
grid uses. In the case of her work in researching and research? a kid following him around as he tried to do things remaining for the field.
developing a suitable battery for implantable cardiac around the house and fix things, but he always let T&I: Speaking of challenges, energy and energy con-
defibrillators (ICDs), she faced the daunting task Takeuchi: What I described is very fundamental me participate to the level I was able. He didn’t say, sumption are issues that are particularly fraught right
of developing a battery that could both last for an work. I think the applications could be quite broad. “No, girls don’t do that kind of thing.” My parents now. How do you think we are doing as a country
extended period of time and generate sufficient power Certainly, the application that is becoming very sig- never put limitations on me. They never instilled in in negotiating the critical challenges that energy and
to make the device operational. Through the process nificant is electric vehicles. As adoption increases, me that there was something that I couldn’t do. They energy consumption pose?
of invention and reinvention, she and her team met everybody believes that the growth of electric vehicles never said, “Don’t do that. That’s too hard.” So, when
I grew up, I felt that it was possible and well within Takeuchi: Energy consumption, to me, is a very sig-
the challenge, ultimately creating a battery that has will be quite substantial. So, what that would help is my purview to do anything I wanted to do. Science nificant issue, and a global issue, not just a national
making batteries more efficient, so they would heat
saved millions of lives — a truly transformative inven- up less. In other words, more energy would be going was of interest, and they very much encouraged that. issue, because energy consumption is directly linked
tion. While Takeuchi still works on medical device towards electricity as opposed to heat. If that were Even as a child, I remember my father talking to me to standard of living, so as standard of living improves,
batteries, she is also pursuing new life-changing true, the batteries would be less complex as cooling about math and algebra, making sure I was learning energy consumption goes up. The good news is that,
advances, this time in the area of sustainable energy. would be less complicated and maybe it would be appropriately and the schools were being effective around the world, many countries’ standard of living
The bar is set high, with the objective being clean possible to charge the batteries faster. These are sig- in their approach. is increasing and has increased very significantly in
energy storage systems that are high-performing, nificant advantages. Another compelling application I think getting into batteries, in some ways, was the last few years, which is great. However, that also
long-lived, and safe. With a $10 million Energy Fron- would be coupling batteries with solar panels to store serendipity. I had done chemistry as a graduate stu- means that energy consumption, on a global level,
tier Research Center award in hand and the goal of renewable energy. dent and electrochemistry as a postdoc. My husband continues to increase. Then, the challenge becomes
sustainability in mind, she and her team are working T&I: I listened to your talk at the 2015 National Acad- and I are a two-career couple. My husband is a fac- the future availability of energy. One can imagine if
on a variety of projects, including the development emy of Inventors conference, and you discussed some ulty member in chemistry, and we were juggling energy becomes something critical and scarce, then
of alternative battery systems that use abundant and of your earlier work with medical device batteries. where we should land, and one of the positions that only a few groups will have a high standard of living,
was interesting was a company called Greatbatch, and no one else will, which is a frightening thing to
clean materials, such as iron oxides, and the creation Have we reached a plateau in that area, or can we
of systems that recycle battery cathodes in more effi- reach further in terms of the longevity of the battery? where I ended up working for many years. They were think about. To some extent, we can already see what
working on batteries, and I thought, “Well, I have a oil has done—how countries who happen to be rich
cient, cleaner ways. Takeuchi: I think there’s always an opportunity. background in electrochemistry and chemistry, and in oil have had their economies impacted by that.
Dr. Takeuchi graciously offered a wide-ranging We are still pursuing opportunities with medical maybe this is a good fit.” It turned out to be true, as I think that this dilemma, for the United States,
interview to T&I, delivering penetrating insights on batteries. In the past, we’ve had funding from the I spent more than 20 years there. It was working at in the short run, doesn’t matter, but over the next 20
the critical challenges we face in energy consumption, National Institutes of Health to continue research Greatbatch that introduced me to batteries. And I’ve years, I believe it matters a lot. What is our future?
discussing what makes a great innovator, and sharing on medical batteries and extend their lifetime. With just been fascinated ever since with the complexities What is our supply of stable energy? Can we con-
what it means to have been responsible for saving medical batteries, the challenge is a little bit different of the problems and difficulty of the challenges. The tinue to consume fossil fuels and assume that they
countless lives with her work. because oftentimes the lifetime is shortened because important and meaningful nature of the impact that are endless and also endlessly inexpensive and have
of some self-consuming or parasitic process because our research can have has captivated me all this time. no impact on the world? I don’t think any of those

THE NAI PROFILE 559



the lifetimes of the batteries are expected to be so That’s how I ended up in science and specifically
long. Thus, the cause of the inefficiency is different, in batteries.
but the problem is equally significant.
T&I: That’s one of the beauties of innovation. It’s
T&I: Looking at your body of research and consid- one of those things that seems simple but behind
ering your career, it is clear to see you have a passion it are complexities and challenges that people don’t
for science. What early experiences influenced you even imagine.
to pursue a career in science? And, having settled
on science, what prompted you to choose batteries Takeuchi: It’s funny you say that because I’ve taught
a class, junior and senior undergraduates, for sev-
as a research area?
eral years, and occasionally I have a student who
Takeuchi: I have two different answers. I think as says “What’s the big deal? Batteries are old. What’s
regards a career in science, I really credit my parents, there left to invent?” The answer is that there’s still so
maybe specifically my father, to my general pursuit much left to invent, and the complexities grow rather
of the field. My father was an electrical engineer, than shrink as you try to go to bigger and bigger
and, as a small child, I liked following my father challenges. There are still many activities and many
around. I can only imagine what it was like having patents being filed, so there’s significant innovation
a kid following him around as he tried to do things remaining for the field.
around the house and fix things, but he always let T&I: Speaking of challenges, energy and energy con-
me participate to the level I was able. He didn’t say, sumption are issues that are particularly fraught right
“No, girls don’t do that kind of thing.” My parents now. How do you think we are doing as a country
never put limitations on me. They never instilled in in negotiating the critical challenges that energy and
me that there was something that I couldn’t do. They energy consumption pose?
never said, “Don’t do that. That’s too hard.” So, when
I grew up, I felt that it was possible and well within Takeuchi: Energy consumption, to me, is a very sig-
my purview to do anything I wanted to do. Science nificant issue, and a global issue, not just a national
was of interest, and they very much encouraged that. issue, because energy consumption is directly linked
Even as a child, I remember my father talking to me to standard of living, so as standard of living improves,
about math and algebra, making sure I was learning energy consumption goes up. The good news is that,
appropriately and the schools were being effective around the world, many countries’ standard of living
in their approach. is increasing and has increased very significantly in
I think getting into batteries, in some ways, was the last few years, which is great. However, that also
serendipity. I had done chemistry as a graduate stu- means that energy consumption, on a global level,
dent and electrochemistry as a postdoc. My husband continues to increase. Then, the challenge becomes
and I are a two-career couple. My husband is a fac- the future availability of energy. One can imagine if
ulty member in chemistry, and we were juggling energy becomes something critical and scarce, then
where we should land, and one of the positions that only a few groups will have a high standard of living,
was interesting was a company called Greatbatch, and no one else will, which is a frightening thing to
where I ended up working for many years. They were think about. To some extent, we can already see what
working on batteries, and I thought, “Well, I have a oil has done—how countries who happen to be rich
background in electrochemistry and chemistry, and in oil have had their economies impacted by that.
maybe this is a good fit.” It turned out to be true, as I think that this dilemma, for the United States,
I spent more than 20 years there. It was working at in the short run, doesn’t matter, but over the next 20
Greatbatch that introduced me to batteries. And I’ve years, I believe it matters a lot. What is our future?
just been fascinated ever since with the complexities What is our supply of stable energy? Can we con-
of the problems and difficulty of the challenges. The tinue to consume fossil fuels and assume that they
important and meaningful nature of the impact that are endless and also endlessly inexpensive and have
our research can have has captivated me all this time. no impact on the world? I don’t think any of those

560 THE NAI PROFILE THE NAI PROFILE 561



assumptions are true or clear, so I think energy avail- we face. There are some problems that have just been work. Coupled with that is a real desire to solve a academic career. Do you think that has changed? Do
ability is a big issue that needs attention, research, and so difficult to solve over the decades, and we need to problem and really being bothered when you can’t you feel your translation activities are valued equally
innovation. And it may need policy. I think there are think about them in new ways. What better way to do solve it. A level of persistence goes with that because with your publications and your other scholarly and
times when things need to be driven by more than that than by bringing in folks that come at a problem you can’t back off the problem and say, “Well, I tried academic activities?
just economics. There are times when policy can be from a different perspective and can look at it in a twice, and it didn’t work, so I’m going to give up.” Oh, Takeuchi: That’s a great question, and I think it prob-
helpful as long as the policy is done in a thoughtful new way that hasn’t been done before. no! If a problem is worth solving, then it’s certainly ably depends on what stage you are at in your career.
way. The way I think about it is that the part that we T&I: Do you feel that’s something that you’ve tried worth pursuing a number of times until you can For assistant professors, my advice would still be, in
do here in research related to energy storage is a piece get something that works or at least is going in the order to get tenure, you better publish. It’s not that
of that larger but very significant energy challenge to foster in your own team at Stony Brook—bringing right direction. It’s the constant determination to say, patents are a bad thing, but I wonder if we’ve pro-
people in who are coming from different backgrounds
that we face as a globe. I do think it’s a global issue and experiences and levels? “We can make it better. If something doesn’t work, gressed to a point where patents alone are enough to
that has to be tackled, and I think some countries we can fix it or modify it and make it better.” Also, I get tenure. Once someone is a full professor, innova-
don’t consider it seriously enough. It’s a big issue that Takeuchi: Very much. We’re actually really proud of think, for me, while science is the underpinning of tion is highly regarded by the university, but tenure,
deserves significant attention. that. The research students in our group are co-ad- everything we do, I also like to work and conduct by my guess, is judged by more standard academic
vised by Professor Ken Takeuchi, my husband, research and activity in something that’s a little bit
T&I: You mentioned earlier that your parents never Research Professor Amy Marschilok, our collabora- more tangible—not to just have some broad theoret- criteria. I wouldn’t want to discourage innovation in
put any limitations on you in terms of gender and tor, and me. With three advisors, our students already ical construct but to also have the desire to reduce a young faculty member, but I’d also caution them to
science. I read, with interest, some of the comments benefit from multiple backgrounds and perspectives. it to something practical that you can actually test. be sure they’re getting the other things that are going
you made on women and science in an article in The Our group, for the last few years, has been consis- We build real batteries in our lab, test them, and ask, to be more directly measured done in a time frame
Atlantic. You offered a great observation, noting that tently 50% female, and this is in a field of hard science, “How did this one do today?” I think it’s the com- that will be useful for their career. Having said that,
when women do participate in science, they may specifically chemistry and materials science. I think bination of those things that drive innovators to try I do think academia is evolving.
come at a certain problem from a different angle than it’s great, and the diverse perspectives and diverse the next approach. What’s the problem we’re trying T&I: Since you’ve spent good chunks of time in both
men, thus leading to potentially different solutions attitudes that we have actually helps in approaching to solve, and how are we going to do it? academia and industry, could you talk a bit about
and innovations. Have you had that happen for you problems, problem solving, and looking at issues in how innovative activity works differently in each
in the invention process? Have you been a part of new and unique ways. T&I: Have you come up with, over the years that environment? Are there different pressures or dif-
someone else’s solution or innovation in that way? you’ve been in the workplace and now at the uni- ferent motivators?
T&I: That innovative teaching approach leads into versity, strategies or ways to try to promote or foster
Takeuchi: I would argue that I see that all the time. my next question. What do you think makes you a these traits? Takeuchi: I think there are different motivators in
Each of us is an individual, and everyone thinks about great innovator? What traits do you have that char- one context specifically. If we’re breaking new ground
a problem from their own perspective. What’s their acterize you and let you do the things that you do? Takeuchi: I do think what I said earlier is important. and looking in a new direction, I think there can
life experience, their family experience, their profes- How do you think we can go about fostering them You have to allow students the opportunity to be be reasonable similarities. In industry, one of the
sional background, their educational background? I in others, especially our students, which is now the creative and express themselves. If they have some deliberate things we did was think about a defensive
see it in our own research group all the time. Because goal in academia? wild idea that isn’t dangerous to themselves or the portfolio; in other words, patents became a strategic
batteries are so multidisciplinary, I see students with labs, or doesn’t consume extraordinary amounts of entity, in that you can patent what you’re going to use
backgrounds in chemistry, physics, materials science, Takeuchi: That’s absolutely the goal. I believe that it’s time away from their other projects, we let them try directly, and you should. This provides some degree
electrical engineering, and mechanical engineering, a combination of several things instead of any one things. Part of being an innovator is being able to of protection while you manufacture and deliver
and when we talk about a problem, each one talks thing. I think one is openness, just being willing to experiment and pursue your dreams a little bit, so whatever your product is. The other thing we did
about it from their own perspective. When you’re think about different things and not closing your that’s what we do. We let them think of ideas. We was think about not doing something directly, but
talking to an electrical engineer, their mind goes to mind to different approaches. Sometimes, I have are not always the ones telling them what to do. As thinking, “This pathway might be a workaround, or
a circuit. When you talk to a material scientist, their students come into my office, and, at first, they’ll seem students are entering in their first years, we start them this pathway might be similar enough that if someone
mind goes to molecular structure. When you talk to a to be talking about something that sounds totally somewhere, but later we challenge them to come up used that approach, you could end up, functionally,
mechanical engineer, they start thinking about phys- crazy, but I always take the time to listen because with some of their own ideas. I think that’s the kind in a place that’s close enough.” These are commonly
ical forces, pressure, the swelling that takes place in a some place in there, there may be a good idea that of thought process that can build on itself and help called defensive patents. I think, in academics, it
battery. The interesting thing is that they’re all correct. is just being expressed in a very unconventional way. them turn into innovators and creative scientists. would be much rarer to file defensive patents because
They are all right. I do think that’s why women and I think that openness to new ideas and thoughts, T&I: Considering your record of innovation, one of the likelihood of defensive patents being licensed is
other folks who maybe aren’t typically so involved being able to think in different thought processes, the things that people always comment on is your not as high. In a company, defensive patents can be
in the innovation process really need to be. It’s not is really important. patent record because it is, indubitably, very impres- extremely valuable because they broaden the field
simply a matter of being the morally right thing to I think another thing is inherent curiosity, that sive. Coming from the academic perspective, for the and, in some sense, if the defensive patents come
do; I think it’s imperative to solve the problems that is, wanting to know how things work and why they longest time patents weren’t necessarily a boon to an after the fundamental patents, extend the practical

THE NAI PROFILE 561



work. Coupled with that is a real desire to solve a academic career. Do you think that has changed? Do
problem and really being bothered when you can’t you feel your translation activities are valued equally
solve it. A level of persistence goes with that because with your publications and your other scholarly and
you can’t back off the problem and say, “Well, I tried academic activities?
twice, and it didn’t work, so I’m going to give up.” Oh, Takeuchi: That’s a great question, and I think it prob-
no! If a problem is worth solving, then it’s certainly ably depends on what stage you are at in your career.
worth pursuing a number of times until you can
get something that works or at least is going in the For assistant professors, my advice would still be, in
order to get tenure, you better publish. It’s not that
right direction. It’s the constant determination to say, patents are a bad thing, but I wonder if we’ve pro-
“We can make it better. If something doesn’t work, gressed to a point where patents alone are enough to
we can fix it or modify it and make it better.” Also, I get tenure. Once someone is a full professor, innova-
think, for me, while science is the underpinning of tion is highly regarded by the university, but tenure,
everything we do, I also like to work and conduct by my guess, is judged by more standard academic
research and activity in something that’s a little bit criteria. I wouldn’t want to discourage innovation in
more tangible—not to just have some broad theoret- a young faculty member, but I’d also caution them to
ical construct but to also have the desire to reduce be sure they’re getting the other things that are going
it to something practical that you can actually test. to be more directly measured done in a time frame
We build real batteries in our lab, test them, and ask, that will be useful for their career. Having said that,
“How did this one do today?” I think it’s the com- I do think academia is evolving.
bination of those things that drive innovators to try
the next approach. What’s the problem we’re trying T&I: Since you’ve spent good chunks of time in both
to solve, and how are we going to do it? academia and industry, could you talk a bit about
how innovative activity works differently in each
T&I: Have you come up with, over the years that environment? Are there different pressures or dif-
you’ve been in the workplace and now at the uni- ferent motivators?
versity, strategies or ways to try to promote or foster
these traits? Takeuchi: I think there are different motivators in
one context specifically. If we’re breaking new ground
Takeuchi: I do think what I said earlier is important. and looking in a new direction, I think there can
You have to allow students the opportunity to be be reasonable similarities. In industry, one of the
creative and express themselves. If they have some deliberate things we did was think about a defensive
wild idea that isn’t dangerous to themselves or the portfolio; in other words, patents became a strategic
labs, or doesn’t consume extraordinary amounts of entity, in that you can patent what you’re going to use
time away from their other projects, we let them try directly, and you should. This provides some degree
things. Part of being an innovator is being able to
experiment and pursue your dreams a little bit, so of protection while you manufacture and deliver
whatever your product is. The other thing we did
that’s what we do. We let them think of ideas. We was think about not doing something directly, but
are not always the ones telling them what to do. As thinking, “This pathway might be a workaround, or
students are entering in their first years, we start them this pathway might be similar enough that if someone
somewhere, but later we challenge them to come up used that approach, you could end up, functionally,
with some of their own ideas. I think that’s the kind in a place that’s close enough.” These are commonly
of thought process that can build on itself and help called defensive patents. I think, in academics, it
them turn into innovators and creative scientists.
would be much rarer to file defensive patents because
T&I: Considering your record of innovation, one of the likelihood of defensive patents being licensed is
the things that people always comment on is your not as high. In a company, defensive patents can be
patent record because it is, indubitably, very impres- extremely valuable because they broaden the field
sive. Coming from the academic perspective, for the and, in some sense, if the defensive patents come
longest time patents weren’t necessarily a boon to an after the fundamental patents, extend the practical

562 THE NAI PROFILE




































Figure 1. Esther Takeuchi with former President Barack Obama on the occasion of receiving the National Medal of Technology and
Innovation.
lifetime of that technology because even little things making things happen yet motivated by the broader
become impediments for someone trying to go down perspective. For example, our company, on a yearly
that same pathway. That would be the big difference I basis, would try to bring in a patient who had had
would see. In academics, typically we patent what we an implant to talk to the company employees about
plan to use, but in industry, that’s not always the case. their own experiences. It’s those experiences that
remind you that you aren’t just doing an exercise
T&I: When former President Obama presented you in science, not just something at the lab bench. It’s
with the National Medal of Technology, he referenced something that has real consequence and real impact
the millions of lives you have saved with your work. on human lives. It’s incredibly rewarding to know
At the time, you said that you hadn’t considered it in that what we were able to do was so successful and
that way. Having had time to reflect, what does his helps so many people.
statement mean to you?
Takeuchi: It is pretty stunning, actually. When I CONCLUSION
started working at a medical company, we certainly One truism that colors all of Takeuchi’s work is her
realized that there were patients involved, but in the dedication to others, whether they be patients who
day-to-day, you become consumed with the project depend on her devices, consumers who want clean
itself, and you’re driven by your milestones and what energy options, or the students who populate her
you’re trying to accomplish. You then look back and classes and laboratory. As she notes, “It’s not really
think, “Wow! It worked.” This was not just about about me. It’s really about what happens next.” That
keeping a company in business, but this was really insight has made her view her legacy to the science
about what we were doing for patients, keeping world in a different way because an important part
millions of people alive who, without this device, of what happens next for Takeuchi is making sure
would be at risk. You’re very involved in the details of that female scientists and innovators have a clear

THE NAI PROFILE 563



path forward. While she notes that we have seen FURTHER READING
great advances in parity at the level of schooling, we
have yet to see those same results for women as they 1. Bock DC, Marschilok AC, Takeuchi KJ, Takeuchi
advance, and, in her words, “mid-career leadership ES. Batteries used to power implantable biomed-
ical devices. Electrochim Acta. 2012;84:155-164.
for females is still not where it needs to be.” Instead, 2. Bock DC, Takeuchi KJ, Marschilok AC, Takeuchi
when she looks at the level of achievement she her- ES. Silver vanadium oxide and silver vana-
self has attained, she finds that she does not have a dium phosphorous oxide dissolution kinetics:
lot of company. If you examine, as she and some of a mechanistic study with possible impact on
her female students did, the gender breakdowns for future ICD battery lifetimes. Dalton Trans.
the National Academy of Engineering, the National 2013;42(38):13981-13989.
Inventors Hall of Fame, and the National Medal of 3. Takeuchi ES, Marschilok AC, Takeuchi KJ,
Technology and Innovation, you find that around 5% Ignatov Alexander, Zhong Z, Croft M. Energy
of the honorees are women. She wants to see those dispersive X-ray diffraction of lithium-silver
numbers improve for the good of female innovators vanadium phosphorous oxide cells: in-situ
and for the good of the country. Her argument is cathode depth profiling of an electrochemical
sound: “If we’re eliminating half of our workforce, reduction-displacement reaction. Energy Envi-
half of our brainpower, half of our innovative energy, ron Sci. 2013;6(5):1465-1470.
then I think we’re missing out.” 4. Bock D, Pelliccione CJ, Zhang W, Wang J, Knehr
When she looks at her bright and talented Ph.D.’s, KW, Wang J, Wang F, West AC, Marschilok AC,
Takeuchi wonders where they will go and what mod- Takeuchi KJ, Takeuchi ES. Dispersion of Nano-
els for success they will find. She also can’t help but crystalline Fe3O4 within composite electrodes:
question if they will be squeezed out of the ranks insights on battery related electrochemistry. ACS
altogether, an alternative she describes as “uncon- Appl Mater Interfaces. 2016;8(18):11418-11430.
scionable.” For Takeuchi, it’s not enough to simply 5. Bock DC, Kirshenbaum KC, Wang J, Zhang W,
offer a directive for change or stand as an example; Wang F, Wang J, Marschilok AC, Takeuchi KJ,
rather, she wants to be a force for transformation of Takeuchi ES. 2D cross sectional analysis and
the discipline. Whenever she has the opportunity, she associated electrochemistry of composite elec-
tackles issues of gender disparity, speaking frequently trodes containing dispersed agglomerates of
with young female scientists and encouraging them nanocrystalline magnetite, Fe3O4. ACS Appl
to stay the course. Takeuchi’s light is spreading, and Mater Interfaces. 2015;7(24):13457-13466.
she ended by offering a hopeful anecdote: 6. Poyraz A, Huang J, Cheng S, Bock D, Wu L,

One of my students, she’s great. On the first day I Zhu Y, Marschilok AC, Takeuchi KJ, Takeuchi
met her, we were discussing if she might join our ES. Effective recycling of manganese oxide cath-
research group. I asked her, “What are you going odes for lithium Based batteries. Green Chem.
to do, ultimately? What are you thinking about?” 2016;18:3414-3421.
And she says, “I want to rule the world.” I said, 7. Abraham A, Housel LM, Lininger CN, Bock DC,
“Right on, good for you. We’ll help you.” Of course, Jou J, Wang F, West AC, Marschilok AC, Takeu-
she said it with a grin on her face, but what that chi KJ, Takeuchi ES. Investigating the complex
says is she wants to be in charge. And you know chemistry of functional energy storage systems:
what? She should be. We need more of that. the need for an integrative, multiscale (molec-
ular to mesoscale) perspective. ACS Cent Sci.
We definitely do need more of that, and helping us 2016;2(6):380-387.
achieve that will be an important part of Takeuchi’s 8. Smith PF, Takeuchi KJ, Marschilok AC, Takeu-
lasting legacy to science. chi ES. Holy grails in chemistry: investigating
and understanding fast electron/cation coupled
transport within inorganic ionic matrices. Acc
Chem Res. 2017;50:544-548.

564 THE NAI PROFILE



9. Yin J, Brady AB, Takeuchi ES, Marschilok AC, 10. Huang J, Poyraz AS, Lee SY, Wu L, Zhu Y,
Takeuchi KJ. Magnesium-ion battery-relevant Marschilok AC, Takeuchi KJ, Takeuchi ES.
electrochemistry of MgMn2O4: crystallite size Silver-containing α-MnO2 nanorods: electro-
effects and the notable role of electrolyte water chemistry in Na-based battery systems. ACS
content. Chem Commun. 2017;26. Appl Mater Interfaces. 2017;9(5)4333-4342.

INNOVATION




































Methods and devices to control fluid volumes, reagent

and particle concentration in arrays of microfluidic drops

Dr. Siva A. Vanapalli



Biological and biomedical applications such as drug screening, cellular assays, DNA analysis, and
protein crystallization occupy a market capitalization of more than a billion dollars. These applica-
tions require miniaturized sample volumes and high-throughput manipulation of multiple fluid
samples so the cost of analysis is reduced. Multiwell plates and pipetting systems have been the
major workhorse for these applications; however, they are difficult to scale down to handle nanoliter
volume due to fluid evaporation and pipetting errors. The proposed invention uses a method to
generate spatially defined arrays of nanoliter volumes of fluids on a substrate with each individual
volume containing a different chemical composition. The technology allows dispensing arrays of
nanoliter volumes on a substrate, with each volume having a different composition of reagents,
without the use of robotic arms. The novel features of the technology are that the composition of
nanoliter volumes can be tuned with single or multiple reagents. Particulate matter such as beads
and cells can be encapsulated and treated with multiple reagents of varying composition. The
present invention thus overcomes the challenges associated with today’s technologies for
high-throughput screening.


More information can be found at:
https://www.google.com/patents/US20140051062



Technology and Innovation, Vol. 19., pp. 565-566, 2017 ISSN 1949-8241 • E-ISSN 1949-825X
Printed in the USA. All rights reserved. http://dx.doi.org/10.21300/19.2.2017.565
Copyright © 2017 National Academy of Inventors. 565 www.technologyandinnovation.org

INNOVATION















Robust Droop Control

for Parallel Operated

Inverters



Dr. Beibei Ren







The droop control has played an important role in conventional power systems for many decades to
allow synchronous generators to run in parallel and loads to be shared in proportion to their power
rating. In recent years, the droop control has been applied to parallel operated inverters, especially
for microgrids with distributed renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar energy. However,
the conventional droop control is not able to achieve accurate load sharing among parallel operated
inverters, as it requires that all inverters should have the same per-unit output impedance and
generate the same voltage set point. Both conditions are difficult to meet in practice because there
always exist numerical computational errors, parameter drifts, component mismatches, and system
uncertainties and disturbances, such as large or fast load changes and fluctuating DC-link voltages,
etc. This new technology introduces a voltage feedback loop and embeds a robust control
algorithm to overcome the above-mentioned problems so that accurate proportional load sharing is
achieved among parallel-operated inverters according to their power rating. This technology
received the 2017 TechConnect National Innovation Award because of its great potential value in
grid modernization with high penetration of renewable energy sources.



More information can be found at:

today.ttu.edu/posts/2017/05/ren-award

technologies.texastech.edu/technologies/d-1301_
robust-droop-control-for-parallel-operated-inverters




566

Aims and Scope Patent Reviews: New patents of interest to the readers of
T&I are included in this category.
The journal Technology and Innovation, Journal of the
National Academy of Inventors (T&I) is a forum for pre- Book Reviews on Innovation and Technology: Solicited
sentation of information encompassing essentially the entire or unsolicited short reviews of relevant books and issued
field of applied sciences, with a focus on transformative patents are considered for publication in this category.
technology and academic innovation. Owing to the broad
nature of the applied sciences, authors should be guided by Preparation of Manuscripts
the interest of the readers who are likely to be knowledge-
able non-specialist scholars. Contributions containing the Submissions to Technology and Innovation must be in
English, in an editable Microsoft Word-compatible elec-
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• Economics of a technology, governmental and policy be submitted separately from text.
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• Articles should have a discussion on the process of descriptive.
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i

ii



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or rewrites are allowed. vided to allow for repetition of the study by another group.

iii



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TECHNOLOGIES FOR DISABILITIES


SPECIAL Sethuraman Panchanathan, Arizona State University, USA, [email protected]
EDITORS Diane Cook, Washington State University, USA, [email protected]
Forouzan Golshani, California State University, Long Beach, USA, [email protected]
Troy McDaniel, Arizona State University, USA, [email protected]
Shayok Chakraborty, Arizona State University, USA, [email protected]







Technology and Innovation (T&I) is currently soliciting manuscripts for a
special issue on technologies for disabilities.

Rapid technological advancements and innovations continue to largely target the “able” population
with little consideration to accessibility, leaving behind the 15 percent (1 billion) of the world’s
population who has some form of disability. Individuals with disabilities often must adapt them-
selves (usually unsuccessfully) to available devices and software designed with accessibility as an
afterthought rather than as an integral component from ideation to development. Ad hoc solutions
are common in which disparate technologies are combined to circumvent accessibility issues, often
with much struggle. There is therefore a pronounced need for research on innovative assistive and
rehabilitative technologies spanning diverse disabilities, including sensory, physical, and cognitive
impairment as a result of an injury, disease, disorder, and/or aging. We invite authors to submit
articles representing cutting edge advances and outcomes in assistive and rehabilitative technology
intended for use by:
• Individuals with sensory impairment, including visual (e.g., blindness, low vision) and/or
hearing (e.g., deafness, hard-of-hearing)
• Individuals with motor impairment due to stroke, brain injury, spinal cord injury, Cerebral
Palsy, other causes

• Individuals with cognitive impairment affecting speech, language, memory, attention, and/or
learning

• Individuals with psychiatric disabilities (e.g., anxiety, mood disorders)

Initial manuscripts should be submitted by January 2, 2018. Instructions for authors, including
journal policies, manuscript formatting information, and author forms, can be found at:
http://academyofinventors. org/ti/resources.asp.

T&I is published by the National Academy of Inventors and presents information encompassing
the entire field of applied sciences, with a focus on transformative technology and academic
innovation, and welcomes manuscripts that meet the general criteria of significance and scientific
excellence. We publish original articles in basic and applied research, critical reviews, surveys,
opinions, commentaries, essays, and patent and book reviews of interest to our readers.

If you have questions or would like to submit a manuscript, please contact
associate editor of T&I, Kimberly Macuare, at kmacuare@academyofinventors.org.

CALL FOR PAPERS





















Special Editor: Kevin J. Parker, University of Rochester, [email protected]



Technology and Innovation (T&I) is currently soliciting manuscripts for a special issue on patent
infringement in the innovation economy.

The Constitution of the United States establishes the legal framework for granting limited term, exclusive
rights to inventors in the U.S., and similar frameworks exist in other countries. Patents are a vital part of the
innovation economy and the advancement of technology and its commercial applications. Once exclusive
rights are granted for an invention in the form of an issued patent, the topic of patent infringement can
become a major concern. News headlines dramatize the largest cases, for example, the $900 Million Kodak
v. Polaroid dispute over instant photography in the early 1990s. However, for smaller companies, start-ups,
and university inventors, the complexity of identifying and challenging infringers can be daunting. Yet, the
future of the start-up or the university invention may depend on recognition of the key issues surrounding
infringement.
We seek rigorous scholarly articles addressing the spectrum of issues surrounding patent infringement,
particularly relating to the perspective of university inventors and small start-ups. Areas of interest include:
• overviews or reviews of trends in patent infringement cases and laws (U.S. or international)
• history and significance of patent infringement cases
• the current state of patent infringement practices, costs, and timelines in the U.S.
• university inventors and university tech transfer perspectives on patent infringement
• reforms of infringement laws, costs, and timelines for the 21 century
st
• alternative strategies for challenging infringement
• the requirements for identifying infringing products
• case studies that illuminate key decisions and issues of infringement
• specific infringement concerns by sector: biotech, computers, aerospace, nanotech, and others.
Initial manuscripts should be submitted by September 3, 2018. Instructions for authors, including journal
policies, manuscript formatting information, and author forms, can be found at: http://academyofinventors.
org/ti/resources.asp.
T&I is published by the National Academy of Inventors and presents information encompassing the entire
field of applied sciences, with a focus on transformative technology and academic innovation, and welcomes
manuscripts that meet the general criteria of significance and scientific excellence. We publish original arti-
cles in basic and applied research, critical reviews, surveys, opinions, commentaries, essays, and patent and
book reviews of interest to our readers.
If you have questions or would like to submit a manuscript, please contact the
associate editor of T&I, Kimberly Macuare, at [email protected].



SAVE THE DATE











Seventh Annual Conference


April 4-6, 2018 | Washington, D.C.
Mayflower Hotel, Autograph Collection

“Exploring the Intersections of Innovation”

Equip YOUR ORGANIZATION TO THRIVE

IN THE GLOBAL MARKETPLACE




Kellogg Executive Education’s diverse offering of programs helps
individuals and organizations transform themselves to better
prepare for the future.
BUSINESS FOR SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS
July 9–13, 2018
CREATING AND LEADING A CULTURE OF INNOVATION
April 16–18, 2018 // September 10–12, 2018
DRIVING ORGANIC GROWTH THROUGH INNOVATION
April 1–5, 2018 // September 24–28, 2018

Featuring Professor James Conley, Clinical Professor of Technology,
Kellogg Center for Research in Technology & Innovation

Visit www.kell.gg/kxeced or call 847.467.6018 to learn more and
register for these upcoming programs.