Release date: September 10, 2024
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Today’s guest says tech transfer could change the world. Tyrome Smith is a seasoned consultant and leader with over 25 years of experience in human and organizational dynamics. As an innovation ecosystem builder and convener, he is a technologist, coach, consultant and advisor at several organizations and entrepreneur-in-residence at Bowie State University in Maryland. Tyrome is also a fellow of the AK Rice Institute and serves on the NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership Advisory Board.
In our discussion, Tyrome and I explore the difference between problem-solving and solutioneering, why ecosystems make 1 plus 1 plus 1 equal 111, and how to tap into the next generation of innovators and entrepreneurs.
Note: At the time of recording, Tyrome was the director of strategic partnerships at the Common Mission Project, a nonprofit that offers university programs that develop mission-driven entrepreneurs. While he's no longer in that position, our discussion about his work there remains relevant to the broader topics we covered.
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Resources:
Exchange In This Episode:
[02:41] We learn about Tyrome's role as the director of strategic partnerships for the Common Mission Project.
[04:55] One of their most successful projects was Capella Space.
[06:27] Tyrome is helping a whole new generation discover tech transfer.
[07:15] We talk about the difference between invention and innovation.
[08:47] The idea of creating value and solutioneering.
[10:10] Tyrome talks about coaching inventors and innovators on assumptions of what must be true to create value for a customer.
[14:26] We learn about Dr. Lister, who discovered that people were dying during surgery, because doctors weren't washing their hands. Listerine comes from the name of Dr. Lister.
[15:52] We need to find the technology to solve the problem.
[17:07] Tech transfer commercialization at the HBCU community.
[21:25] They're trying to figure out how to tap into tech transfer commercialization and the SBIR space while not replicating business models that don't work.
[23:42] Systems for networking are being built across the HBCU community.
[26:19] The importance of having an abundance mentality as opposed to a scarcity mentality. [29:49] Tyrome loves systems and is a systems thinker.
[32:53] Being able to understand business models of technology will help with commercialization and tech transfer.
[36:09] Tyrome is excited about the opportunities at the FLC and NASA. He wants systems to be able to find each other.