Key Insights from State Incentive Programs and NSF Engines Proposals

Bio: Rob Lowe is an entrepreneurial leader and recognized expert in innovation practice. He brings a unique perspective to his clients, based on twenty-five years of success in every aspect of the university- industry innovation ecosystem – from bootstrapping to raising venture capital to selling businesses for industry-leading investor returns.

Rob has founded and served as CEO of four B2B software companies, all resulting in positive exits. His most recent company, Wellspring, is the leading software provider for universities, government agencies, and companies to manage their licensing, collaboration, and research programs. He also founded several incubators over his career, resulting in dozens of successful tech spin-outs.

Rob previously served as a research professor at Carnegie Mellon University, where he built successful university-industry partnerships, as well as in the office of the President at the University of California. Based in Illinois, Rob has a Ph.D. and M.S. in Business and Economics from the University of California, Berkeley. He also received a B.B.A. in Finance, Computer Information Systems, and Economics from the University of Michigan.

Bio: Kristina Thorsell brings her passion for work at the intersection of academia, industry, and government to her clients. She creates opportunities for expanding cross-sector collaboration by identifying challenges, developing contemporary solutions, and lowering barriers to create stronger innovation ecosystems.

Kristina currently serves as the Senior Project Advisor for the parent company of UI Collab, UIDP. She assesses current practices and makes recommendations for change through a combination of crowdsourcing, professional facilitation, and strategic planning approaches. She manages a robust project portfolio focused on increasing the ROI for cross-sector partnerships. The portfolio covers a wide array of topics relating to contracting, strategic partnerships, workforce development, and government engagement. Kristina ensures that recommendations are actionable and make people’s day jobs easier. Previously, Kristina held positions with the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the National Academy of Sciences.

Based in Virginia, Kristina earned an M.P.P. with specializations in international security and economic policy and international development policy from the University of Maryland and a B.S. in chemistry and biochemistry from Purdue University.