Mr. Heath Naquin is a senior innovation consultant focusing on strategic alliances, investment and acceleration of science and technology ventures with innovation ecosystems around the world. He has lead the US Department of State GIST (Global Innovation in Science and Technology) program focused on country building efforts in 122 countries by advancing economic development efforts through the translation of research to commercial outcomes, and the NSF Industry University Cooperative Research Center (I/UCRC) program nationwide. He has also led the development of strategic partnerships with investor networks around the world and is an accredited angel investor himself. Previously he served as Executive Director in the Office of the Vice President for Research at the University of Texas at Austin, managing the National Science Foundation SW I-Corps Node at The University of Texas at Austin, a consortia of more than 40 institutions focused on advancing commercial outcomes from fundamental research across sectors. A reformed entrepreneur and accredited angel investor, he has created numerous startups himself and successfully negotiated investments and acquisitions of ventures. Mr. Naquin received his M.S. in Technology Commercialization from the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin, and his B.B.A. in Business Administration at St. Edwards University. He is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and an active member of the Angel Capital Association, the Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM) and the National Innovation Network.
