Team

Prior to joining OIST, Gil served as the CEO of Yeda Research and Development Co. Ltd., the technology transfer arm of the Weizmann Institute of Science (one of the leading technology transfer and commercializing organizations in the world). Gil co-chaired ITTN (the Israeli Tech-Transfer Organization) and served on the Academia-Industry Committee of the Israel National Council of Research & Development. Gil is a member of 8400 - The Heath Network, a non-for-profit organization aiming at boosting the heath-tech industry in Israel. In addition to his activities, Gil is advising governments and various for profit and non-for-profit organizations globally on various technology transfer and business development issues. Gil holds an MBA and L.L.B. degrees from Tel Aviv University.

Tags: Management | Strategy

Lauren is responsible for the operations and strategic direction of OIST Innovation, and for overseeing programs to commercialize research at the university, with the goal of making an impact on society and contributing to the self-sustaining development of Okinawa. Prior to joining OIST, Lauren was Vice President of Administration at the Molecular Sciences Institute in Berkeley, California where she played a key role in securing its designation as a national Center of Excellence in Genomic Sciences by the U.S. National Institutes of Health. A native of Vietnam, Lauren received a B.S. in Biological Sciences from the University of South Carolina.

Tags: Management | Strategy

Takanari oversees the management and commercialization of OIST’s intellectual property. Prior to joining OIST, Takanari spent 20 years in academia, as a researcher or faculty member at different institutions, including the University of Tokyo, the Ciba-Geigy (Novartis) Friedrich Miescher Institute, the Max Planck Society, RIKEN and the University of Tsukuba, Gene Research Center. Takanari co-founded Inplanta Innovations Inc., a spin-out from RIKEN, also acting as its CTO until joining OIST. Takanari holds a Ph.D. in Science from the University of Tokyo.

Tags: Management | Intellectual Property | Licensing

Ryohei explores commercialization opportunities for innovations from OIST and works closely with industry partners in Japan and abroad. He enjoys navigating the languages of diverse scientific and technical fields, from computer science to the life sciences. Prior to joining OIST, Ryohei worked for an intellectual property law firm, managing global patent portfolios and advising clients on business and IP strategies, with focus on the Asian markets. He also co-founded a startup in Tokyo and experienced entrepreneurship first-hand. He holds MSc and JD degrees from the University of Tokyo.

Tags: Intellectual Property | Licensing

Paola facilitates the development and commercialization of OIST’s research through licensing and collaboration with industry. Prior to joining OIST, Paola worked for a UK-based start-up as a development chemist, a FTSE100 chemical company as a Technology and Business Development Manager, where she spent 7 years building new businesses and product lines, and a consulting firm as a forensic investigator. She has experience in R&D and product development, intellectual property and new business development, including via M&A. Paola holds a MSc in Chemistry from the University of Fribourg, Switzerland, as well as a PhD in Organometallic and Polymer Chemistry from Imperial College London.

Tags: Intellectual Property | Licensing

Ben’s role at OIST Innovation focuses on intellectual property management and licensing, helping to bring OIST technologies from research to market, to address real-world challenges. Prior to this role, Ben worked as a postdoctoral researcher at OIST, specializing in microfluidics and biosensing. Originally trained as a biochemist, he has expanded his expertise to include material science, MEMS, microfluidics, and data science. During his PhD, he contributed to advancements in biosensing and founded a spin-off company that developed biochips for educational purposes. Ben’s broad scientific expertise is complemented by an associate degree in economics, providing him with practical tools to connect scientific innovation with business opportunities.

Tags: Intellectual Property | Licensing

Angela supports OIST Innovation’s technology development activities, including the Proof of Concept and the Technology Pioneer Fellowship Programs. Prior to joining OIST Innovation, Angela worked for over seven years as an environmental researcher in Japan, first as a JSPS postdoctoral fellow at Riken Yokohama and then as a postdoctoral scholar in the Marine Biophysics Unit at OIST. During her PhD, Angela optimized a plant-based tool to monitor air pollution in Spain. She was a visiting researcher in the UK and Germany before relocating to Japan.

Tags: Internal Programs | Proof of Concept | Technology Pioneer Fellowships

As part of OIST Innovation, Ivana supports researchers in bringing their work from an initial idea to a prototype, application and beyond. They are involved in the Proof of Concept and the Technology Pioneer Fellowship programs and focus on innovative projects that stem from physics, computing, and engineering. Ivana holds a doctorate in physics from the Technical University of Munich, a MSc in physics and a MSc in politics in technology, and has previously worked in market development consulting, science and technical communication, and the quantum computing industry.

Tags: Internal Programs | Proof of Concept | Technology Pioneer Fellowships

OIST との連携構築に関心を持つ企業と研究者をつなぎ、産学連携を推進する事業開発セクションのプログラム運営を担当。包括連携契約に基づく企業との関係構築を行うとともに、産学連携に関わる各種助成金プログラムの企画・運営を担う。
OIST 着任前は、東京、ワシントンDC、ドイツにおいて事業開発業務に従事。

事業開発コーディネーターとして、企業との共同研究の促進に加え、民間財団の助成金および沖縄県委託事業の契約、執行管理を担当。OIST着任前は、東京の外資系会計事務所にて8年以上アシスタントとして勤務し、パートナーを含む経営層の業務支援に従事。米国および東京での実務経験を経て、2015年より沖縄在住。

企業とOISTの研究をつなぐ産学連携プログラムである INOプログラムを担当。また、OIST Innovationにおける企業連携およびパートナーシップ構築全般をサポート。OIST着任前は、10年以上にわたり事業開発、コンサルティング、起業家支援に携わり、グローバル企業、スタートアップ、大学、行政機関など多様な組織との協業を経験するとともに、米国、東京、オランダでの活動を経て沖縄に移住。米国ノースカロライナ大学シャーロット校にて、経営学（国際ビジネス）学士号を取得。

OISTの事業開発セクションにおいて、産業連携に関わる実務および運営面のサポートを担当。
会議やイベントの運営補助、各種書類対応、内部調整業務などを通じて、セクションの活動基盤を支援。

スタートアップ支援、インキュベーター運営、起業家育成を統括し、2014年の初のOIST発バイオ系スタートアップ創出にも貢献。研究開発を基盤とした地域発イノベーションの推進や、多文化環境での協働にも注力している。着任前は、地域シンクタンクで市場調査や中小企業の海外展開支援、自治体の地域振興計画に携わり、ウガンダでは2年間、新規事業の立ち上げに取り組んだ。沖縄出身。中央大学卒、ハワイ大学マノア校修士。

OISTにおいて、スタートアップ支援に関わる各種バックエンド業務を包括的に担当しています。 運営管理、財務・契約手続き、協働調整などを通じて、支援体制の円滑な実行を支えています。

OISTと連携したディープテック・スタートアップを育成する OIST Innovation Incubator を統括しています。OISTに参画する以前は、研究施設および実験施設の分野で12年間勤務していました。

インキュベーターにおけるプログラムおよび各種サービスを統括・運営し、メンバーのイノベーションと起業の取り組みを支援しています。OISTに参画する以前は、たばこ、広告、ソフトウェアなど多様な業界でマーケターとして活躍しました。前職では、リーガルテック・スタートアップにおいてマーケティング責任者（Head of Marketing）を務め、プロダクト・マーケット・フィット（PMF）以前の段階から事業拡大期まで、重要な役割を果たしました。

大学卒業後、県内の銀行へ入行、営業店での法人融資や財務コンサルティングを担当、また本部ではビジネスマッチングなど企業支援業務に従事し、県外の独立系VCで実務経験を活かし、新規事業のファイナンス支援を行う。