Key Takeaways
- Sam Liss will become the next chief technology development officer and associate provost at Harvard University, starting on January 2.
- Liss has been a member of the Office of Technology Development (OTD) team for 15 years and currently serves as its executive director of strategic partnerships.
- The leadership transition comes as the University works to expand its corporate and industry engagement efforts and deepen its engagement with corporate entities and industry.
- Liss succeeds Isaac Kohlberg, who will step down from his role as senior associate provost and chief technology development officer at the end of the year.
- The University has undertaken efforts to deepen its engagement with corporate entities and industry, and there is a heightened faculty interest in working with industry.
Introduction to Sam Liss’s New Role
Sam Liss will become the next chief technology development officer and associate provost at Harvard University, the University announced on Tuesday. Liss, who has been a member of the Office of Technology Development (OTD) team for the past 15 years, will begin in his new role on January 2. This appointment comes at an exciting moment for OTD and for innovation and technology development at Harvard, as the University works to expand its corporate and industry engagement efforts. University Provost John Manning expressed his delight at Liss’s agreement to take on this role, stating that he knows Liss will continue to nurture productive and innovative collaborations that further scientific discovery, deepen human knowledge, and make the world better as a result.
Leadership Transition and Experience
Liss succeeds Isaac Kohlberg, who will step down from his role as senior associate provost and chief technology development officer at the end of this year but will remain with OTD in a consultative capacity through June 2026. Kohlberg has led the University’s efforts in technology development for the last 21 years, establishing the Office of Technology Development and playing a key role in building corporate relationships and developing strategies to further advance Harvard research. Liss brings a wealth of experience to his new role, having served in a variety of business development roles at venture capital-backed startups and as vice president of Corporate Marketing at Dialogic Corporation, which was later acquired by Intel. He was also a management consultant at Booz, Allen & Hamilton in the software, semiconductor, and electronics sectors. Liss has an M.B.A. from Columbia University and a B.S. in electrical engineering from Syracuse University.
Current Role and Responsibilities
In his current role as executive director of strategic partnerships, Liss leads OTD efforts to develop strategic research collaborations across engineering, the physical sciences, and computer sciences and to commercialize technologies in quantum computing, robotics, medical devices, and a range of other areas. Additionally, he manages two translational funds aimed at advancing research projects toward startup formation: the Harvard Grid Accelerator Fund and the Climate and Sustainability Translational Fund. Liss’s experience and expertise in these areas will serve him well in his new role, as he works to deepen the University’s engagement with corporate entities and industry. The leadership transition comes as a more formal alignment between OTD and the Office of the Vice Provost for Research (OVPR) is established to best support the broader academic research mission of the University.
University’s Efforts to Deepen Industry Engagement
The University has undertaken a number of efforts to deepen its engagement with corporate entities and industry, implementing recommendations of corporate relations committees and establishing advisory groups to provide guidance on potential industry collaborations. This comes at a time of heightened faculty interest in working with industry, and Liss’s new role will be crucial in advancing these efforts. As Liss stated, "The work of OTD has never been more crucial in advancing research to address a wide range of urgent societal needs. Our success relies on the remarkable research being conducted across the University, combined with our deep engagement with dedicated alumni, companies, investors, and entrepreneurs who are vital to our achievements." The University’s efforts to deepen its engagement with corporate entities and industry will be essential in advancing research and making Harvard innovations useful in everyday life.
Conclusion and Future Outlook
In conclusion, Sam Liss’s appointment as chief technology development officer and associate provost is a significant development for Harvard University, as the University works to expand its corporate and industry engagement efforts. Liss’s experience and expertise make him an ideal candidate for this role, and his leadership will be crucial in advancing the University’s efforts in innovation and technology development. As the University continues to deepen its engagement with corporate entities and industry, Liss’s new role will be essential in nurturing productive and innovative collaborations that further scientific discovery, deepen human knowledge, and make the world better as a result. With Liss at the helm, the future of innovation and technology development at Harvard University looks bright, and his leadership will be instrumental in advancing the University’s research mission and making a positive impact on society.
