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November 08 Issue - Employee Monthly Magazine SpotlightEnabling Lab innovation into the marketplace
Vlad Matias of the Superconductivity Technology Center shows Steve Girrens, right, the ion-beam-assisted deposition system for continuous processing of long-length tape used in the deposition of high temperature superconducting films. Photo by Sandra Valdez
A self-described "innovation ambassador," Steve Girrens heads the Laboratory's primary portal for partnering with industry—reaching out to corporations and reaching in to Laboratory personnel to match and leverage industry needs with Lab capabilities. He recently returned to the Lab as Technology Transfer (TT) Division leader after two and a half years at ARES Corporation. His return, he said, was motivated by "the opportunity to work with a group of very talented people who are passionate about their success for a noble cause; namely, trusted partnership catalysts." Before ARES, Girrens was at the Lab from 1979 to 2006, joining Los Alamos as a staff member in the energy-focused Q Division and eventually leading the Engineering Sciences and Applications Division. During that time, he acquired diverse experience as an engineering analyst and manager developing and applying engineering technologies to solve problems in energy and defense. "Steve has a unique combination of experience as a technical leader in the weapons program and in business development in the private sector. He also has demonstrated a sustained commitment to community service and economic development," said Duncan McBranch, Science, Technology, and Engineering Directorate deputy principal associate director. One of the first staff members to work to understand, explain, and promote Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs), Girrens aims to increase CRADAs in his new role. "CRADAs are the sweet spot for accomplishing open innovation with industry," he said. "TT has been assisting the Laboratory achieve significant growth in CRADAs and nonfederal Work-for-Others, which combined doubled over the last two years. Both of these activities bring industry research dollars into the Lab totaling $36 million in fiscal year 2008." Girrens, who holds bachelor's and master's of science degrees from Wichita State University and a doctorate from Colorado State through the Laboratory's Advanced Study Program, reports two successes since his return. First, line management is being re-engaged in selecting and crafting the Lab's intellectual property portfolio. Second, TT has selected the Verge-ARCH team as partners on the Venture Acceleration Initiative aimed at spinning off new technology-based companies from the Laboratory in Northern New Mexico. —Mig Owens Other Headlines
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