The latest Big Ideas Lab episode explores LLNL's technology transfer program. Overseen by the Innovation and Partnerships Office, the goal of technology transfer is to bring LLNL breakthroughs to market through research collaborations, technology commercialization and entrepreneurship. Listen on Apple or Spotify.
(Download Image)Big Ideas Lab Podcast Takes on Tech Spinoffs and Partnerships
For decades, the most cutting-edge scientific breakthroughs discovered at LLNL have influenced technological advances that shaped the 21st century and continue to guide innovation in many industries. A recent episode of the Big Ideas Lab podcast takes a deep dive into how the Innovation and Partnerships Office (IPO) facilitates tech transfer at LLNL and some of the most impactful success stories over the years. Listen on Apple and Spotify.
From the Human Genome Project to high-peak-power laser pulses in manufacturing to high-resolution radars used in disaster zones — LLNL’s mission-focused research for national security has produced intellectual property that led to industry-changing inventions, thanks to technology transfer and partnerships. One 3D metal printing startup was inspired by research into protecting NIF's optical components from laser damage.
“It’s about the individual narratives and stories of the technologies that connect LLNL activities to something that people see and touch every day — that is priceless,” said IPO Director Matthew Garrett. “Technologies emerging from LLNL could have an impact on many challenges, and we facilitate that.”
IPO’s mission is to bring these breakthroughs to market through research collaborations, technology commercialization, and entrepreneurship. Partnerships at LLNL can range from start-ups and large enterprises, to universities, other national labs or a government agency, with the aim of growing the U.S. economy. Tech transfer takes many forms and might include a company licensing Lab-owned technology, accessing LLNL’s unique facilities for technology maturation, collaborating on a multi-party research project or supporting LLNL scientists interested in entrepreneurship.
One person who did just that is James DeMuth, a former-LLNL-scientist-turned-entrepreneur. While looking for an alloy to withstand the extreme heat of NIF experiments, he and several LLNL co-inventors figured out a way to speed up 3D printing. DeMuth then co-founded Seurat Technologies, which licensed LLNL’s additive manufacturing technology for high-volume 3D metal printing in aerospace, auto, and electronics.
“The Lab was able to provide effectively a safety net: an entrepreneurial leave of absence,” DeMuth said. “LLNL and IPO helped create an environment where I felt I could take a risk that I otherwise might not have taken.”
Tune into the “Big Ideas Lab” to learn more about DeMuth’s journey, the role of IPO and how other LLNL tech transfer success stories have shaped the world of today — and are already impacting tomorrow. Listen on Apple or Spotify.
More Information:
“The Power of Partnerships: How LLNL Laser Technology is Transforming Industrial Manufacturing,” NIF & Photon Science News, January 10, 2025
“How NIF Inspired Groundbreaking 3D Metal-Printing Technology,” NIF & Photon Science News, June 6, 2021
Follow us on X: @lasers_llnl
