UH appoints new tech transfer executive to lead its innovation, commercialization efforts

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The University of Hawaiʻi has announced that Denichiro "Denny" Otsuga has been appointed as director of the Office of Innovation and Commercialization (OIC), which is housed under the Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation, effective September 21.

In his new role, Otsuga will be responsible for the management of intellectual property and UH-developed technology assets, including engaging researchers to identify promising innovations and helping guide those innovations through intellectual property protection, licensing and other commercialization pathways. He will also be responsible for technology evaluation and marketing, venture creation, promoting industry engagement and the development of commercial partnerships to help stimulate economic growth.

Otsuga will also oversee efforts to help educate and mentor UH faculty, students, researchers and alumni to successfully navigate the complex commercialization process through OIC and UH's suite of accelerator and innovation-based programs and initiatives.

"What excites me most is the extraordinary opportunity to build on UH's research strengths and ongoing innovation efforts to expand the translation of new knowledge into practical solutions, new ventures and meaningful partnerships," said Otsuga. "I look forward to working alongside faculty, students, staff, industry and community partners to strengthen pathways for UH innovations and expand their economic and societal impact for Hawaiʻi and beyond."

Decades of experience

Otsuga comes to UH after most recently serving as an independent advisor in university technology transfer, venture creation, equity financing for technology startups and innovation ecosystem development. His 20-plus years of combined experience includes stops as chief investment officer for Kobe University and Kobe University Innovation, Inc.; vice president of Colorado State University Ventures, Inc.; executive director of the Technology Commercialization Office at the University of Kentucky; founding director of the Technology Transfer Office at South Dakota State University; and as licensing manager of the Technology Transfer Office at the University of Utah.

"Denny's diverse background in science, university tech transfer and venture capital experience will help to serve as a catalyst to turn our laboratory breakthroughs into market-ready solutions," said UH Vice President for Research and Innovation Chad B. Walton. "His understanding of the unique language spoken by researchers and commercial investors will be invaluable in our push to establish a knowledge-based economy for the state, and at the same time, helping to develop solutions that can be used here and around the world."

Otsuga earned his bachelor of science in biology and PhD in molecular genetics from the University of Utah. A Registered Technology Transfer Professional, Otsuga has authored technology transfer and policy publications, presented at the Association of University Technology Managers and the University Network of Innovation and Technology Transfer, and served as a reviewer for the National Science Foundation's I-Corps and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Small Business Innovation Research and Sun Grant programs.