Propelling the University Innovation Equation with Paul Cherukuri

Timecoded Guide:

[0:00] Start of episode

[03:35] Meeting “The Godfather of Nanotech” Rick Smalley

[05:32] Innovation and startups in universities

[14:48] Launching startups at Rice 

[19:25] Houston’ startup incubators

[21:28] Rice at the forefront of innovation

[25:46] Teslaphoresis

How does a mix of science and engineering help in your role?

Having a background of both science and engineering, Paul has integrated his knowledge and expertise as a researcher and teacher at Rice. Now, as he’s spearheaded the innovation arm of the university while teaching others how to create and integrate all necessary pieces to drive forward for impact in the world. In applying the knowledge, reintegrating science, tech, and entrepreneurship is the formula for innovation, Paul says. 

“Innovation equals invention times commercialization. You have to have both of those aspects.”

How are you helping at Rice to get startups out there?

While universities are buzzing hubs for creation and ingenuity, the challenge is in getting the projects out into the world. Paul says that to do this, there are several key ingredients. First? Capital. Paul says that Houston may have capital but that the challenge is in organizing it and channeling it. The other piece, Paul says, is cultural change: innovators at universities must direct their ambition and form an ecosystem in order to make an impact in the world. 

“The real impact comes from faculty and students who want to really change the world.”

Flipping the script and supporting university startups

Paul and Chris discuss the university revenue system and how some colleges will only license a startup if they can receive a large portion of the stock. Paul wants to flip the script on that. He says that he wants to incentivize creators and give money back to them as inventors. To propel this growth, Rice’s Office of Innovation has partnered with the Ion in plans to build The Nexus: a hub for the college’s startup growth. 

“We're going to incentivize the creators, the people who are doing it, and we're going to give back money to them as inventors. And then on top of that, we're not going to choke off the startups.”

Rice at the forefront of innovation and entrepreneurship

Rice is small but makes a big mark on Houston and the rest of the world. Paul says that there is an “intellectual special forces” at Rice: an economic powerhouse of research. Nanotech, synthetic biology, much of wireless technology, and even 5g came out of Rice University. While they stay humble, Paul wants to spread the word about Rice. For talent, ambition, and excellence Rice is the place to be—and Paul says that supporting innovation is a main part of that equation. “We built those towers—the technology that's in your phones, a lot of it's come from Rice. We don't talk about it. Why? We're freaking humble Houston. It's a part of it. This is Southern humility.”