The Next Leap
@thenextleap.is
We report on university research commercialisation, produce an interview podcast, and write about spinouts and innovation ecosystems.
Founded and edited by Thierry Heles. Find us at thenextleap.is
Please note: DMs are not monitored.
Founded and edited by Thierry Heles. Find us at thenextleap.is
Please note: DMs are not monitored.
Cheryl Horst has been made permanent executive director of NUtech Ventures thenextleap.is/news/cheryl-...
The Next Leap » Cheryl Horst made permanent executive director of NUtech Ventures
Cheryl Horst has been serving in an interim capacity since July last year, and has worked for NUtech Ventures for more than sixteen years.
thenextleap.is
December 19, 2025 at 9:22 AM
Cheryl Horst has been made permanent executive director of NUtech Ventures thenextleap.is/news/cheryl-...
Trent University names Tana Allen vice president for research and innovation thenextleap.is/news/tana-al...
The Next Leap » Trent University names Tana Allen VP for research and innovation
Tana Allen has been appointed vice president for research and innovation at Trent University, and will take on her new role next autumn.
thenextleap.is
December 17, 2025 at 1:15 PM
Trent University names Tana Allen vice president for research and innovation thenextleap.is/news/tana-al...
PSV Hafnium closes €60 million fund thenextleap.is/news/psv-haf...
The Next Leap » PSV Hafnium closes €60 million fund
The fund was launched in 2021 with an initial €55 million and a hard cap of €80 million, closing at the lower end of the scale.
thenextleap.is
December 17, 2025 at 10:43 AM
PSV Hafnium closes €60 million fund thenextleap.is/news/psv-haf...
@harvard.edu is promoting Sam Liss to succeed Isaac Kohlberg as head of its Office of Technology Development thenextleap.is/news/sam-lis...
The Next Leap » Harvard promotes Sam Liss to succeed Isaac Kohlberg
The Next Leap is a media and data research consultancy for the university technology transfer ecosystem. Listen to our eponymous podcast for free everywhere.
thenextleap.is
December 17, 2025 at 9:41 AM
@harvard.edu is promoting Sam Liss to succeed Isaac Kohlberg as head of its Office of Technology Development thenextleap.is/news/sam-lis...
QUBIS appoints Marina Donohoe, who has worked for Enterprise Ireland since 1998, as its next CEO thenextleap.is/news/marina-...
The Next Leap » QUBIS appoints Marina Donohoe as its next CEO
Marina Donohoe will succeed Brian McCaul, who announced his decision to step down earlier this year.
thenextleap.is
December 16, 2025 at 4:01 PM
QUBIS appoints Marina Donohoe, who has worked for Enterprise Ireland since 1998, as its next CEO thenextleap.is/news/marina-...
Cindy Klein Marmer made permanent director of the Blank Center thenextleap.is/news/cindy-klein-marmer-blank-center/
The Next Leap » Cindy Klein Marmer made permanent director of Blank Center
She has served as interim executive director of Babson College's entrepreneurship hub since last year, and her role is now permanent.
thenextleap.is
December 16, 2025 at 9:14 AM
Cindy Klein Marmer made permanent director of the Blank Center thenextleap.is/news/cindy-klein-marmer-blank-center/
Having resisted calls to launch a venture fund for years, the University of Pennsylvania is finally getting in on spinout investments with the launch of a $10 million evergreen vehicle dubbed StartUP Fund thenextleap.is/news/penn-st...
The Next Leap » Penn launches $10 million StartUP Fund
The University of Pennsylvania has long resisted launching its own venture fund, but has now announced a $10 million investment fund for spinouts.
thenextleap.is
December 16, 2025 at 8:42 AM
Having resisted calls to launch a venture fund for years, the University of Pennsylvania is finally getting in on spinout investments with the launch of a $10 million evergreen vehicle dubbed StartUP Fund thenextleap.is/news/penn-st...
Kevin Gardner, Stony Brook’s VP for research and innovation, steps down thenextleap.is/news/kevin-g...
The Next Leap » Stony Brook VP Kevin Gardner steps down
Kevin Gardner, the vice president for research and innovation at Stony Brook University, will step down by the end of the year to return to teaching.
thenextleap.is
December 15, 2025 at 10:51 AM
Kevin Gardner, Stony Brook’s VP for research and innovation, steps down thenextleap.is/news/kevin-g...
Case Western Reserve University promotes Michael Oakes to executive vice president for research and economic development thenextleap.is/news/michael...
The Next Leap » CWRU promotes Michael Oakes to executive VP for research and economic development
Michael Oakes joined Case Western Reserve University as the senior vice president for research and technology management over three years ago.
thenextleap.is
December 15, 2025 at 10:17 AM
Case Western Reserve University promotes Michael Oakes to executive vice president for research and economic development thenextleap.is/news/michael...
Mikkel Sørensen steps down from DTU Skylab to focus on SkyFactory thenextleap.is/news/mikkel-...
The Next Leap » Mikkel Sørensen departs Skylab to focus on SkyFactory
After twelve years with TU Denmark's innovation hub Skylab, Mikkel Sørensen is putting his focus on the new DTU SkyFactory.
thenextleap.is
December 11, 2025 at 1:09 PM
Mikkel Sørensen steps down from DTU Skylab to focus on SkyFactory thenextleap.is/news/mikkel-...
IIT Bombay creates ₹2.5 billion Y Point Venture Capital Fund thenextleap.is/news/iit-bom...
The Next Leap » IIT Bombay creates ₹2.5 billion Y Point Venture Capital Fund
The Y Point Venture Capital Fund will primarily invest in early-stage, deeptech IIT Bombay spinouts, but also back startups from other institutions.
thenextleap.is
December 11, 2025 at 10:24 AM
IIT Bombay creates ₹2.5 billion Y Point Venture Capital Fund thenextleap.is/news/iit-bom...
With a university and a German CVC (Uplift Ventures) among its LPs, U2V launches with a €60 million fund aimed at early-stage deeptech spinouts across Europe thenextleap.is/news/u2v-uni...
The Next Leap » U2V launches €60 million fund targeting European spinouts
University2Ventures has been set up by the partners of Earlybird X, which launched in 2021 to similarly invest in university spinoffs.
thenextleap.is
December 10, 2025 at 10:40 AM
With a university and a German CVC (Uplift Ventures) among its LPs, U2V launches with a €60 million fund aimed at early-stage deeptech spinouts across Europe thenextleap.is/news/u2v-uni...
NZ Innovation Booster adds the University of Auckland to LPs thenextleap.is/news/univers...
The Next Leap » NZ Innovation Booster adds the University of Auckland to LPs
The Next Leap is a media and data research consultancy for the university technology transfer ecosystem. Listen to our eponymous podcast for free everywhere.
thenextleap.is
December 9, 2025 at 11:37 AM
NZ Innovation Booster adds the University of Auckland to LPs thenextleap.is/news/univers...
Alexander Khalessi promoted to chief innovation officer at UC San Diego Health thenextleap.is/news/alexand...
The Next Leap » Alexander Khalessi promoted to CIO at UCSD Health
Alexander Khalessi is the current chair of neurological surgery and a professor of surgery, radiology and neurosciences at UC San Diego Health.
thenextleap.is
December 8, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Alexander Khalessi promoted to chief innovation officer at UC San Diego Health thenextleap.is/news/alexand...
Tanarra Capital, which already manages the University of Melbourne's A$125 million Tin Alley Ventures, is exploring a fund of funds to create more spinout investment vehicles thenextleap.is/news/tanarra...
The Next Leap » Tanarra Capital explores fund of funds for spinouts
Tanarra Capital currently manages the University of Melbourne's Tin Alley Ventures and is keen to expand its focus on university spinouts.
thenextleap.is
December 8, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Tanarra Capital, which already manages the University of Melbourne's A$125 million Tin Alley Ventures, is exploring a fund of funds to create more spinout investment vehicles thenextleap.is/news/tanarra...
Fudan University launches two funds, worth a combined $242 million thenextleap.is/news/fudan-u...
The Next Leap » Fudan University launches funds, worth a total of $242m
The Chinese university has set up a CN¥1 billion fund and a $100 million vehicle in order to significantly bolster its innovation ecosystem.
thenextleap.is
December 8, 2025 at 11:04 AM
Fudan University launches two funds, worth a combined $242 million thenextleap.is/news/fudan-u...
Michelle Chrétien joins Toronto Metropolitan University to oversee commercialisation thenextleap.is/news/michell...
The Next Leap » Michelle Chrétien joins TMU to oversee commercialisation
Michelle Chrétien has been appointed assistant vice-president, research partnerships and commercialisation, at the Toronto Metropolitan University.
thenextleap.is
December 8, 2025 at 10:23 AM
Michelle Chrétien joins Toronto Metropolitan University to oversee commercialisation thenextleap.is/news/michell...
TNO Ventures backs Keen’s Defense & Safety Fund thenextleap.is/news/tno-ven...
The Next Leap » TNO Ventures backs Keen's Defense & Safety Fund
The commercialisation arm of applied research organisation TNO is making its 14th LP commitment in Keen Venture Partners-managed Defense & Safety Fund.
thenextleap.is
December 8, 2025 at 9:45 AM
TNO Ventures backs Keen’s Defense & Safety Fund thenextleap.is/news/tno-ven...
Dedric Carter moves to UNC Health Care System thenextleap.is/news/dedric-...
The Next Leap » Dedric Carter moves to UNC Health Care System
Dedric Carter will move into his new system-wide role next month, having served as chief innovation officer of UNC-Chapel Hill since 2023.
thenextleap.is
November 21, 2025 at 10:25 AM
Dedric Carter moves to UNC Health Care System thenextleap.is/news/dedric-...
The @waikatouniversity.bsky.social is recruiting Callaghan Innovation’s Florian Spoerl as its new director of commercial and business partnerships thenextleap.is/news/florian...
The Next Leap » University of Waikato recruits Callaghan Innovation's Florian Spoerl
Florian Spoerl, currently the chief product officer Callaghan Innovation, will become Waikato's director of commercial and business partnerships.
thenextleap.is
November 19, 2025 at 4:24 PM
The @waikatouniversity.bsky.social is recruiting Callaghan Innovation’s Florian Spoerl as its new director of commercial and business partnerships thenextleap.is/news/florian...
Polytechnique Montréal brings in Luc Paquet to head its new Lassonde Deeptech Institute thenextleap.is/news/luc-paq...
The Next Leap » Polytechnique Montréal brings in Luc Paquet to head its new Lassonde Deeptech Institute
Luc Paquet is returning to work for a university, having led tech transfer offices TransfertTech Sherbrooke and Univalor earlier in his career.
thenextleap.is
November 19, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Polytechnique Montréal brings in Luc Paquet to head its new Lassonde Deeptech Institute thenextleap.is/news/luc-paq...
Dutch universities have launched a standard IP agreement for spinouts, which will be used by all tech transfer offices in the country going forward. We break it all down: thenextleap.is/news/dutch-s...
The Next Leap » Dutch universities launch standard IP agreement
The National IP Deal Term Principles were developed and will be used by all technology transfer offices in the country going forward.
thenextleap.is
November 19, 2025 at 10:47 AM
Dutch universities have launched a standard IP agreement for spinouts, which will be used by all tech transfer offices in the country going forward. We break it all down: thenextleap.is/news/dutch-s...
Qbic promotes Sara Vandenwijngaert to the Belgian multi-university venture fund's inaugural chief scientific director thenextleap.is/news/sara-va...
The Next Leap » Qbic promotes Sara Vandenwijngaert to chief scientific director
Qbic, a venture fund backed by multiple Belgian universities, is introducing the position of chief scientific director and appoints Sara Vandenwijngaert.
thenextleap.is
November 17, 2025 at 10:55 AM
Qbic promotes Sara Vandenwijngaert to the Belgian multi-university venture fund's inaugural chief scientific director thenextleap.is/news/sara-va...
Entertech Istanbul Technopark, a commercialisation hub established by Istanbul University and Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa, has launched the Entertech First Venture Capital Investment Fund thenextleap.is/news/enterte...
The Next Leap » Entertech VCIF launches to back Turkish startups
The fund has been created by Entertech Istanbul Technopark, which is owned by Istanbul University and Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa.
thenextleap.is
November 13, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Entertech Istanbul Technopark, a commercialisation hub established by Istanbul University and Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa, has launched the Entertech First Venture Capital Investment Fund thenextleap.is/news/enterte...
New Zealand has radically overhauled its intellectual property policy, bringing in professor's privilege and setting the amount of equity a university is allowed to take in any spinouts it does help establish: thenextleap.is/news/new-zea...
The Next Leap » New Zealand introduces professor's privilege
Significant changes in national IP policy, which also include pre-defined equity stakes, are expected to lead to more spinouts.
thenextleap.is
November 13, 2025 at 3:32 PM
New Zealand has radically overhauled its intellectual property policy, bringing in professor's privilege and setting the amount of equity a university is allowed to take in any spinouts it does help establish: thenextleap.is/news/new-zea...