​​HTB conference 2024 - Global Perspectives​

David Ai
David is Head of Innovation at the London School of Economics has held similar roles in Hawaii, Hong Kong and Stanford. He was Chief Advisor at Hitachi VC, has founded several startups, and was VP at Varian (NYSE: VAR) and Cirque Corporation (now ALPS Japan). He has an MS (computer science) and a Stanford MBA. He is a patent attorney. 

Thomas Bereuter
Thomas is a Certified Licensing Professional with a successful track record in licensing and technology divestment deals. He has founded and supported start-ups as CEO, advisor and coach. He started his 30-year tech commercialisation journey as an inventor and went on to establish an acclaimed academic incubator and technology exploitation office. He joined the EPO in 2013 and has a 15-year history of lecturing at various universities. 

Juergen Graner
Juergen has more than 30 years of experience managing companies, departments and strategic transactions. He has held CEO positions in six countries on three continents and coached over 100 CEOs globally. He has over 25 years of teaching experience and speaks at conferences and publishes articles about strategic transaction management.  

Apiwat Thongprasert
Apiwat is Managing Director at a university venture builder in Thailand with experience driving research from universities to successful commercialisation. He has a background in technology management and B2B business development on the international stage. His expertise spans various industries including Auto-ID, RFID, IoT, medical devices, biotechnology and semiconductors. 

Audrey Yap
Audrey is a qualified lawyer and patent attorney and has extensive experience working with companies at various stages of growth She has been ranked one of the world’s leading IP strategist in the IAM300 for 15 years consecutively. She is co-founder and managing director of ASEAN IP and the corporate practice YUSARN AUDREY LLC. in Singapore. 

Keynote lecture 1
Technology businesses powered by brands 
Juergen Graner 

Technology business leaders often miss the opportunity to build a brand and instead focus primarily on the technology enabling their business. This lecture will provide a deeper strategic understanding of brands and their added-value for technology businesses. It will also provide an overview of the different types of brand that are available to enhance the value of a business. 

Keynote lecture 2
Focus on users for your high growth tech business
David Ai 

Most entrepreneurs believe they know the buyers of their technology well, but there are plenty of examples which show that this is often not the case. In this session we will cover typical mistakes and myths and show you how to truly focus on your customers. We will also explore the intricate relationship between customer focus and your business model, and your unique competitive advantages. 

Keynote lecture 3
Manufacturing trends and IP strategies
Audrey Yap 

The manufacturing sector has undergone significant stress. Understanding the key trends and knowing how to design an effective IP strategy that is aligned with these is crucial. This lecture touches on recent advances in analytics, digital twinning, industry 4.0 and the changes technology companies need to think about to be ready for their next phase of growth. 

Keynote lecture 4
An IP commercialisation case study
Apiwat Thongprasert 

Two years after legal changes in Thailand similar to the US Bayh-Dole Act, this session examines the transformative impact through the lens of a university venture builder. Highlighting the pivotal role of the triple helix collaboration in integrating universities, government and business, the session shares experience and case studies on fuelling innovation and revolutionising a nation’s technological landscape.