Unlocking the Future of Innovation: Nick Web, Opening Plenary Keynote

Nick Webb, a renowned technologist, futurist, and author of 14 books, holds more than 40 patents. He serves as a CEO of a management consulting firm, LeaderLogic, LLC that works with leading brands in healthcare, life science, and the medical device industry to help them optimize all aspects of their innovation, management efforts, and innovation pipeline.

He is both excited and humbled to serve as the Opening Plenary Keynote speaker at the 2025 AUTM Annual Meeting.

"What I love about AUTM is that these are the explorers," Webb shares. "They are the ones that are going out there and doing brave things for research, things that the commercial side or the industrial side of innovation would never do.”

Drawing from his vast experience, Webb will introduce emerging trends and actionable insights in areas such as innovation management, artificial intelligence (AI), and technology licensing.

A Lifetime of Innovation
Innovation seems embedded in Webb’s DNA. While he acknowledges that “some of the biggest belly flops were the most beautiful journeys,” his career is filled with remarkable successes.

His first invention, a scalpel for cataract surgery, emerged from his early days working in a wet lab. "Back then—during the early days of small-incision cataract surgery—people  involved in commercializing ophthalmology products had to spend months in a wet lab, refining their techniques on pig eyes."

One of his most impactful inventions addresses dry eye syndrome, a condition affecting 80 million Americans. He developed a silicone implant for the vertical punctum (a small opening near the eye) to help conserve natural and artificial tears. In addition to inventing this solution, Webb founded the company that manufactures the implants.

Beyond the medical field, Webb also created a line of kitchen tools sold at Williams Sonoma and other major retailers. However, one of his proudest achievements is Hanz, a line of educational tools that were in competition with LEGO®.

"Hanz was developed for the maker movement," Webb explains. "You have kids that are 7-, 8-years old using servo controllers and Arduino CPUs to build their own robots. Then they were downloading the interface from Thingiverse and printing it off on their 3D printers. That was just amazing."

Insights for the Future of Tech Transfer
At the 2025 AUTM Annual Meeting, Webb will draw from his experiences to share valuable technologies and anticipatory insights that can help transform university technology transfer offices. Attendees can expect to learn about:

• The role of AI in tech transfer
• Open innovation frameworks for successful commercialization
• The rise of hyperconsumerism and the expectation of layered, dynamic value beyond mere transactions
• Strategies companies are using to address the talent shortage
• Proven approaches to improving licensing efficiency

For example, Webb will present data on enterprise innovation. “No matter a university’s overarching goal, we can increase the likelihood of achieving it by 60% using collaborative ideation. This process is fueled by enterprise social networks that incorporate game mechanics and social engagement. These principles can have a profound impact within a department or across an entire university.”

Webb also understands the challenges of fostering innovation. “I ran an innovation center for five years, and I know how easy it is to dismiss ideas because inventors may seem naïve about commercial realities. But the organizations that thrive in innovation are the ones that encourage courage.”

With his infectious energy, deep curiosity, and groundbreaking insights, Nick Webb is sure to ignite excitement among attendees—both for the event itself and for the bright future of innovation in our profession.