S&TR June 2017 Ready, Set, Innovate! ENTREPRENEURSHIP FLOURISHES AT THE LABORATORY

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Lawrence Livermore’s REAT ideas percolate, evolving into business, and law. Rankin continues, G even better ones. The best ideas can “Our expertise helps us figure out how Industrial Partnerships ultimately rise to the top and make a best to invest limited time and resources Ready, Set, Innovate! tangible difference in the nation—when in promising technology that positively given the right outlet. For close to 65 years, impacts the nation’s economy.” Office uses its technology- Lawrence Livermore has embraced all of IPO has organized networking events these stages of innovation as a venue for with potential investors and cohosted scientific research and development, a educational seminars with universities and transfer expertise to help proving ground for new technologies, and other laboratories. Staff also participate an advocate for transferring technology to in conferences, student mentoring, and the private sector. Livermore’s culture of business development webinars. Other the Laboratory’s successful entrepreneurship ensures that innovations outreach activities include membership with broad applications find a purpose in national laboratory consortia, onsite beyond Laboratory gates, providing collaboration at the Livermore Valley innovators contribute to the economic benefit at the local, state, and Open Campus, and engagement with the national level. Department of Energy’s Energy I-Corps nation’s economy. These Technology transfer, or the and other parts of the National Laboratory commercialization of an invention, is a Accelerator Program. (See S&TR, March complicated process. Wading through 2015, pp. 4–10; and the article beginning on top inventors are enshrined licensing agreements, nondisclosure p. 12 in this issue.) contracts, and patent applications is only the beginning. Protecting intellectual property Secrets of Success in the Entrepreneurs’ is critical, as are drafting a business plan, IPO takes an end-to-end approach applying for funding, and formulating a to entrepreneurship with initiatives that go-to-market strategy. These tasks can seem advise employees on everything from Hall of Fame. daunting to a scientist or engineer whose identifying a market need to finding a day job is steeped in laboratory equipment corporate partner who can transform the or computer codes. Those who embark on technology into a marketable product. the entrepreneurial journey often need help, For instance, the Entrepreneurs-in- which is where the Laboratory’s Industrial Readiness Program connects Livermore Partnerships Office (IPO) comes in. entrepreneurs with seasoned experts from Livermore’s concerted technology- California’s Silicon Valley. In addition transfer efforts began in the mid-1980s to this program, the Laboratory uses the as part of its national security mission. National Laboratory Entrepreneurship IPO promotes Laboratory-developed Academy at the University of California technologies for commercial partners who (UC) at Davis to educate scientists about identify opportunities and seek licenses the commercialization process. Serial or cooperative research and development entrepreneurs bring wisdom and fresh agreements (CRADAs) to further shape perspectives to early-stage technologies, the technology for market applications. often finding hidden potential or new (See S&TR, July/August 2008, pp. 4–11.) ways of thinking about a technology’s IPO Director Rich Rankin says, “The applications. These mentors can also help most challenging aspect of technology scientists tap into a network of investors transfer is picking winners.” Rankin’s and partners. IPO Deputy Director Roger staff includes scientists and specialists in Werne emphasizes the importance of a commercialization, intellectual property, network for the aspiring entrepreneur. He product development, market analysis, says, “You must have advisors who can

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provide insight into the market you’re Although entrepreneurs may define licenses and CRADAs. These quantities also targeting.” When the time is right, an success differently, success for IPO is boast quality—to date, Livermore scientists employee may decide to create a startup measured by a license or CRADA to have received 155 R&D 100 awards. or join an existing company to launch his refine the technology for a commercial Winning one of these prestigious awards or her product. IPO works with employees purpose. Eventually, a technology’s impact is considered a respected achievement that who wish to steer their careers in this in the market is measured by royalties also enhances marketability. direction. “Scientists and engineers can on product sales. Annually, Livermore- be naïve about what it takes to become developed technologies generate more A Cooperstown for Innovation commercially successful,” says Werne. than $300 million in sales, earning the To recognize scientists whose “Entering the marketplace is a gamble. Laboratory more than $8 million in inventiveness and entrepreneurial spirit Fortunately, Livermore’s credibility in licensing fees and royalties. With more have made significant impacts on both many industries means venture capitalists than 1,000 active agreements and just as the Laboratory and the private sector, or angel investors will usually listen to many patents and patent applications, IPO Werne worked with Laboratory Director what we have to say.” oversees upwards of 140 active commercial Emeritus Bruce Tarter to establish the

The Entrepreneurs’ Hall of Fame, in Lawrence Livermore’s Industrial Partnerships Office (IPO), recognizes successful entrepreneurs and their achievements.

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Entrepreneurs’ Hall of Fame (EHF) Science in 2012, coinciding with Livermore’s 60th anniversary. Fifteen scientists were inducted in the inaugural class, with four more honored in 2015. (See Technology S&TR, December 2012, p. 2; and S&TR, Business March 2015, p. 24.) Alone among national Transfer laboratories, Livermore’s EHF benefits

IPO Director Rich Rankin defines technology Law transfer as the intersection of science, business, and law. He notes, “Our staff have experience in all of these areas.”

Making Waves in Varied Ways

Lawrence Livermore’s Entrepreneurs’ Hall of Fame (EHF) honors the historic S-1 series, the Mark-1, and created the structured computer- scientists whose efforts at the Laboratory led to successful technology aided logic design (SCALD) language to improve design processes. transfers. Many EHF inductees have continued their work regionally Computer engineer Jeffrey Rubin joined their effort to enhance and debug in California’s Silicon Valley, a hotbed of startups full of like-minded the system, and the three founded Valid Logic Systems to commercialize innovators looking for leading-edge solutions to a range of problems. SCALD technology. All went on to pursue further innovations in hardware For example, Michael Farmwald addressed crucial performance and software, and the industry took notice—McWilliams and Rubin’s problems in supercomputing and electronic microprocessors at the startup PathScale sold to Intel, while Widdoes’s company, Logic Modeling Laboratory before transitioning to serial startups. After beginning Systems, was acquired by Synopsys. his career at the Laboratory, Bruce McWilliams brought his physics Medical breakthroughs are also represented in the EHF. Fluorescence expertise to the semiconductor industry, founding or joining multiple in situ hybridization (FISH), a method of binding molecules to nucleic companies while evolving his unique multichip packaging technology acid fragments for easier detection of genetic sequences, was originally and other semiconductor components. Similarly, David Tuckerman designed to evaluate radiation doses received by Hiroshima and Nagasaki joined McWilliams at two startups before founding a consulting firm survivors. With the Laboratory’s help, Daniel Pinkel and Joe Gray that connects venture capitalists and industrial clients. Tuckerman’s licensed the technology to a commercial company. FISH is now a leading background in engineering, computer science, and angel investments diagnostic technique for assessing radiation doses and other environmental have enabled him to nurture a new generation of entrepreneurs. exposures and has applications in genetic counseling and species Other EHF members have invented new products or improved existing identification. tools. James Bryan, known as the “Father of Precision Engineering,” Advancements in another type of DNA analysis known as polymerase developed a telescoping magnetic ball bar that provides high-precision chain reaction (PCR) have come from multiple EHF inductees. Bill machine tool calibration. Thomas McEwan’s work with Livermore’s Colston and Fred Milanovich secured several patents, R&D 100 awards, laser—a predecessor to the National Ignition Facility—led to the invention and Laboratory Directed Research and Development Program funding of an ultrasensitive radar system called . This for work that eventually led to a product called Droplet Digital PCR. The radar can be found in a variety of applications for military personnel— product divides a genetic specimen into thousands of equivalent samples including landmine detection systems and wall-penetrating radar—and for for expanded testing and increased accuracy. Since commercialization, homeowners, such as stud finders and motion detectors. The technology Droplet Digital PCR has penetrated the forensic science, DNA cloning, has garnered multiple awards and continues to be one of Livermore’s prenatal testing, and genetic analysis markets. (See S&TR, April/May biggest royalty generators. In a surprising benefit for consumer products, 2017, pp. 4–12.) Robert Parker’s work in temperature sensors led to Biomedical progress continues thanks to Allen Northrup, who used his a breakthrough in liquid crystal technology, whose applications included expertise in microinstrumentation to create a silicon chip capable of rapidly the popular “Mood Rings” of the 1970s. Parker’s later inventions include copying billions of DNA samples via PCR. After successful deployment a self-contained solder joint system and a visual temperature-distribution of biodetection field units in the wake of the 2001 anthrax attacks, the indicator for cookware. technology is now a mainstay of biotechnology, forensic analysis, and EHF brainpower has also boosted computer technology. Curtis countering bioterrorism. Northrup’s company, Cepheid, recently sold for Widdoes and Thomas McWilliams designed the first supercomputer in $4 billion.

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the Laboratory as much as the scientists it honors. Werne notes, “The Hall of Fame is demonstrable evidence of the value of our work.” EHF inclusion has three criteria— innovative technology, business acumen, and company value. Evaluating a prospective inductee takes time. Werne notes that companies typically need 10 to 20 years to achieve substantial success. By the time the Hall of Famers were officially honored, he says, “their mark in the commercial world had been made, and they had provided something of commercial value to the country.” The motto of the National Baseball Hall of Fame— “Preserving History, Honoring Excellence, Connecting Generations”—could also Although individuals carve their own paths, LS-DYNA models mechanical failure. The code apply to these notable entrepreneurs. five EHF inductees in particular underscore has been used in the automotive industry to All spent several years at the Laboratory several essential phases common to all save billions of dollars and has greatly improved developing their technologies before entrepreneurial journeys. safety. A car’s behavior is simulated with a exploring commercial opportunities. Many mesh of computational calculations, as seen give back to the Laboratory by volunteering Phase 1: Develop the Product in the compacted front end of the car shown. their time as mentors and advisors in In the early days of supercomputing, no The car is covered with over 1.5 million points, IPO’s programs. According to Rankin, existing code could predict the structural each a separate calculation. (Image courtesy of achievements honored by the EHF share response of weapons impacting the ground Livermore Software Technology Corporation.) a fundamental result: “These technologies prior to detonation. In the mid-1970s, impact more than the economy. They’ve John O. Hallquist was asked to develop changed how we live.” (See box on p. 7.) simulation software with three-dimensional acknowledges, “I was very lucky to work capabilities. Hallquist named his resultant at the Laboratory when I did. Software 5,000-line code DYNA3D and later development in house was superior to what John O. Hallquist invented finite-element code developed a two-dimensional version was available outside, which motivated me DYNA3D, released commercially as LS‑DYNA. (DYNA2D) and other finite-element to continue on that path.” In 1987, he founded Livermore Software and visualization codes to simulate the Beyond national security applications, Technology Corporation, which holds 65 U.S. mechanical behavior—bending, folding, Hallquist realized DYNA3D could be utility patents. (Photograph by Julie Russell.) collapse—of collision events. Hallquist used for any scenario in which materials collide at high speeds. Responding to external requests, the Laboratory released DYNA3D to the open-source community, where the code gained popularity among software developers working on similar impact problems in the automotive, aerospace, and nuclear industries. As interest in DYNA3D increased, Hallquist founded Livermore Software Technology Corporation to develop crash-test software, with emphasis on automotive and aerospace applications. The resulting commercial product, LS-DYNA, has also found a home in manufacturing, consumer products, civil engineering, electronics packaging, and defense. Other applications include

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metal stamping, shipping container design, Hall of Fame inductee earthquake engineering, and even the Martin Casado also received simulation of sports equipment and aircraft the 2012–2013 Grace Murray bird strikes. Hopper Award for Outstanding For the automotive industry, LS-DYNA Young Computer Professional of has been nothing short of revolutionary. the Year and has been featured Hallquist’s company developed crash in Silicon Valley Business simulations to predict vehicle behavior in Journal’s “40 Under 40” list, collisions, reducing the need for expensive Business Insider’s “50 Most tests with real cars. Seatbelts, airbags, Powerful People in Enterprise accelerometers, and other specialized Tech,” and Forbes Magazine’s vehicle components are also designed with “Next-Gen Innovators.” the help of LS-DYNA. The industry has (Photograph by Julie Russell.) seen multibillion-dollar savings over the last three decades, and the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, California, by decoupling software from traditional In 2012, Casado sold Nicira Networks honors Hallquist in its exhibit on crash- hardware-centric systems. The network for $1.26 billion. Now a general partner test software. Altogether, more than 2,500 could now be managed by a software at Andreessen Horowitz, he focuses companies worldwide have reaped benefits application instead of a traditional on software infrastructure investments in cost savings and safety advancements network and was therefore no longer and works closely with the founders of with LS-DYNA’s stress and deformation constrained by or exposed to network companies in the portfolio. Healthcare, prediction capabilities. security problems. banking, and retail are just a few industries Hallquist’s code lives on at Livermore as Software-defined networking (SDN), reaping the benefits of SDN. Casado the impact-simulation software PARADYN, as Casado’s concept came to be called, explains, “Because this technology allows which is scaled for massively parallel quickly transformed how the computer automation of network infrastructure and supercomputers. Among PARADYN’s industry exchanged data. The paradigm provides security services within a data accomplishments is simulating impact enables microsegmentation, whereby center, it solves a lot of ‘sticky’ problems response in military helmets to improve system engineers can configure each that come with computer virtualization, helmet padding and reduce traumatic application to access only the data needed, such as providing strong isolation and the brain injury. Laboratory defense systems not an entire data center. In this way, mobility of security policies.” engineers use PARADYN for modeling the modern data center can provide both impact events that involve large context—users, data, and files—and Phase 3: Achieve Liftoff deformations or debris fields, such as isolation, that is, sufficient security control. Laser physicist Brent Dane and satellite collisions in space, or that occur Casado notes, “SDN architectures can physicist Lloyd Hackel combined their over subsecond timescales, such as ballistic be made more secure than traditional complementary backgrounds to achieve missile scenarios. (See S&TR July/August architectures and offer more in-network a manufacturing breakthrough. Hackel 2009, pp. 4–11; and S&TR September 2012, security services.” SDN technology is remembers, “Our group at the Laboratory pp. 26–29.) flexible and responsive and reduces the had been developing laser technology for time and cost of provisioning and scaling a x-ray lithography to print computer chips Phase 2: Secure a Network virtual network. and for space object imaging. We then Martin Casado’s journey to While at Stanford, Casado founded realized that our laser was ideal for laser entrepreneurship began in high-performance Illuminics Systems, an Internet protocol peening.” Dane and Hackel eventually and distributed computing. His simulation analytics company, and helped develop code partnered with Metal Improvement work at Livermore shifted focus for the network platforms OpenFlow and Company, Inc., to evolve an advanced to cybersecurity in the wake of the Open vSwitch, expanding SDN technology method of laser peening. Livermore’s IPO September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. into the open-source community. A new brokered a CRADA for a commercial He states, “The Laboratory was my market was thus born, along with Casado’s system, and both scientists eventually introduction to networking and security.” second startup company, Nicira Networks, transitioned to Metal Improvement Motivated to solve network vulnerability to develop SDN applications. Casado says, Company, which today is part of Curtiss- problems, Casado entered a Stanford “My job at the Laboratory was the most Wright Surface Technologies. University Ph.D. program, where he formative job I’ve ever held and laid the Laser peening, in which laser beams developed a method to protect networks foundation for my subsequent work.” replace traditional metal shot, involves

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firing a series of intense laser blasts at a Walter Scott helped found the company known surface. By producing a shockwave that today as DigitalGlobe, which most notably creates a compressive stress field in the provides satellite imaging content for Google surface, the lasers strengthen the underlying Maps. The company’s satellites collect more material. Dane and Hackel pioneered a than 4 million square kilometers of Earth high-energy laser with increased pulse imagery every day at industry-leading resolution, frequency, beam imaging, and robotic geopositional accuracy, and spectral diversity. controls that enable components and The imaging technology’s many applications systems to run longer and with greater include enabling relief agencies to reach safety margins. Their package of people in need after a natural disaster, allowing technologies became marketed under the companies to monitor global infrastructure, and name Lasershot Peening System. Dane helping humanitarian organizations expose notes, “Our work increases the fatigue human rights abuses. (Image courtesy of strength of metal components by preventing DigitalGlobe.) the initiation and growth of cracks.” The result is life extension for critical parts subject to intense conditions, such as Additional metalworking products of computerized tools to design integrated aircraft fuselages and turbine blades used in that benefit from the technology include circuits led to involvement in the jet engines and electric power generation. arrestment hook shanks used for carrier- Department of Defense’s Strategic Defense (See S&TR, March 2001, pp. 26–28.) based aircraft and ship-propulsion shafts Initiative. He then became leader of the The team also developed a peening currently under development. A new mobile Brilliant Pebbles Program, which aimed to process to plastically strain materials laser peening system rapidly delivers the stop ballistic missiles with small spacecraft. to form precision curvatures in thick or process to remote locations, and in 2016, Scott notes, “Livermore is an incredibly complex components. Hackel explains, “We Metal Improvement Company successfully exciting environment for a technologist, patented the concept of shaping metals with treated 110-ton steel pieces at a customer with opportunities to work on very hard laser peening and preferentially controlled worksite. Hackel states, “We’re also problems of high national importance. Both shaping with prestressing techniques.” preventing stress corrosion cracking in aspects were strongly motivating.” The The process is most notably applied to containers for spent nuclear fuel.” work gave him insight into emerging trends workpieces over 100 feet long. Since 2008, in satellite technology, which was becoming the Boeing Company has used the Lasershot Phase 4: Change Perspectives more affordable thanks to microelectronic Peening System to manufacture wing Computer scientist Walter Scott joined innovations, as well as advances in the panels for 747-8 aircraft. Dane adds, “We the Laboratory in 1986. His development graphics capabilities of personal computers. have a rapidly growing presence in defense applications where the use of laser peening has moved from engine components to airframes.” Today, jet engines and aircraft wings run more efficiently and cost-effectively because of the team’s innovations.

Lloyd Hackel (left) and Brent Dane stand with a robot used in laser peening to strengthen critical parts for aviation and other industries. The duo successfully commercialized a laser peening technology—marketed as the Lasershot Peening System—used around the world in airplane fuselages and turbines, as well as in turbines for electric power generation. (Photograph by Julie Russell.)

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The Lasershot Peening System has improved the fatigue life of jet engine and turbine components for a roster of high-profile commercial planes, such as Airbus’s A340 and A350, Boeing’s 777 and 787 Dreamliner, and Gulfstream’s G650. The technology is also used in military aircraft, including the F-22 Raptor and F-15 Eagle. Ongoing development will expand this use to the A-10 Thunderbolt, C-17 Globemaster, and F-35 Lightning models B and C (B shown here). (Image courtesy of U.S. Navy.)

The geopolitical landscape growing repository of analytic tools. Now Hall of Fame members also recognize was changing, too. Scott heading into a $2.4-billion acquisition, the invaluable asset that IPO represents to describes his “ringside seat to DigitalGlobe’s geospatial analysis Livermore scientists trying to convert their the end of the Cold War” as and satellite imaging technologies are technology into a commercially viable a formative experience. He says, “This poised for new applications with help product. Hackel says, “The Laboratory fluid environment created an opportunity from machine learning, elastic cloud was a tremendous place to advance my to use satellite imagery to provide computing, and crowdsourcing. Scott knowledge and further my experimental global transparency to a much broader notes, “Combined, these tools unlock the and project management capabilities. IPO set of users.” In 1992, Scott founded rich information in our image library to was especially helpful with patenting, Colorado-based WorldView Imaging create applications previously impossible, agreements, and other legal support.” Corporation, which became the first such as monitoring economic activity Scott also acknowledges IPO’s support, company to strike a satellite-imaging deal from space, developing continent-wide stating, “The Laboratory was willing to with the U.S. government. Now named property databases for the insurance review intellectual property and give me DigitalGlobe, Scott’s company has launched industry, enabling safe drone navigation, clear guidelines, allowing me to continue a host of high-resolution imaging satellites, and supercharging the effectiveness of my work while raising the financing to has amassed a 100-petabyte time-lapse overworked intelligence analysts by get DigitalGlobe off the ground.” These image library, and most notably provides narrowing the search space.” achievements in technology transfer satellite imaging content for Google Maps indicate how this mission of IPO’s is a and many other online mapping sites. Investment in the Future natural extension of Livermore’s mission Early collaboration with John Henke, Surrounded by modern technology and in national security. Rankin says, “The cofounder of the data visualization with access to resources and equipment Laboratory is an exciting place behind the software company Keyhole, led to the for experimentation, Livermore scientists fences. We want the public to understand industry’s highest-resolution satellite solve complex problems every day. that the Department of Energy’s imagery. Scott notes, “Google needed the Rankin sees commercial potential in technology base makes a positive impact data from our QuickBird satellite to build many growing research areas across the on their lives in so many ways.” a world-class mapping application. After Laboratory. He notes, “We can make —Holly Auten a meeting with [Google founders] Sergey significant contributions in additive Brin and Larry Page, we had a deal.” manufacturing and next-generation energy Key Words: commercialization, cybersecurity, DigitalGlobe’s continued deployment of technology. Biomedical engineers are DYNA3D, Entrepreneurs’ Hall of advanced technologies aboard commercial designing devices and processes that Fame (EHF), entrepreneurship, geospatial imaging satellites includes high- directly impact our quality of life.” He analysis, Industrial Partnerships Office fidelity sensors that detect parts of the cites as examples the three-dimensional (IPO), laser peening, Lasershot Peening System, LS-DYNA, PARADYN, satellite electromagnetic spectrum beyond human printing of blood vessels (see S&TR, imaging, software-defined networking (SDN), visibility. The company has created March 2016, pp. 13–16) and work under technology transfer. the most comprehensive geospatial the National Institutes of Health’s Brain ecosystem featuring a big-data platform, Research through Advancing Innovative For further information contact Rich Rankin global distribution channels, and a Neurotechnologies (BRAIN) Initiative. (925) 423-9353 ([email protected]).

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