Building the Next Chapter of the AUTM Community

As AUTM steps into a new year of leadership, the message from Irene Abrams, Chair of the AUTM Board, is clear: AUTM is your professional home and professional family. The key to the success of the tech transfer profession, and of AUTM, lies in this community.

As she spoke to attendees during her welcome speech at the 2026 AUTM Annual Meeting, Abrams reflected on some of her first encounters with others in tech transfer and how those connections created a support system that continues to this day. “Many years ago (many!) I had just left graduate school and was temping to make some money while I figured out what I wanted to do with my career. One of the places I was sent was the MIT Technology Licensing Office. After a week there, Lita Nelson, one of the founders of our field, invited me to lunch, and the rest is history. Many of us have similar stories: we came to tech transfer through serendipity, grew through mentorship, and for many of us, made lifelong friends.”

That sense of community has been especially powerful during a challenging year for research and innovation. Questions about the value of research and technology transfer moved into the public spotlight, prompting the community to come together in new ways. AUTM worked alongside partners across the nonprofit research sector to share the story of innovation’s impact. Recent federal appropriations restored research funding and codified the full indirect cost rate structure in place in 2024, reinforcing that “through the good work AUTM did with our peer associations, along with many, many supporters throughout the research community, the message was heard and society answered: YES we do value the work of research and innovation!”

This momentum reflects how AUTM is facing challenges with innovative solutions. For example, bi-weekly TTO director conversations regularly draw 60–70 leaders together to share insights and support one another. Looking ahead, Abrams emphasized innovation in how AUTM will serve its members.

• A new AUTM on the Road initiative will pilot smaller, one-day local meetings within driving distance of tech transfer offices, making it easier to gather and collaborate.
• Virtual engagement, known as SIG Convos, will expand as well, building on the success of the director discussions with new regular conversations across AUTM’s Special Interest Groups.
• Advocacy will continue to grow globally with the addition of the Canadian Public Policy Advisory Committee to complement U.S. efforts.

Across all initiatives, the focus for AUTM in 2026 is clear: continuing education, building a stronger community, and making sure everyone knows the true value of tech transfer.

Abrams reminded everyone, “Don’t just network—connect. Join committees, show up for the community, and pour yourself into AUTM…Invest in each other today, and I promise you: you won’t just build a career, you will build a life richer than you can possibly imagine.”