Transforming 20 years of exploration into impact

After two decades of dedication to the University, Isaac Kohlberg will depart from his position as Harvard University’s senior associate provost and chief technology development officer at the conclusion of this year, marking the end of an exceptional period that has profoundly shaped Harvard’s vision and strategy for promoting research for public benefit.

Kohlberg’s twenty years at Harvard have been focused on a singular purpose: converting the University’s findings into actionable applications that provide significant solutions for society. He was instrumental in cultivating extensive corporate partnerships and crafting commercialization strategies to further elevate Harvard research. Kohlberg joined Harvard in 2005 and laid the foundation for the Office of Technology Development (OTD) by merging the University’s technology transfer efforts into a unified program. This initiative seeks to promote innovations emerging from Harvard laboratories through licensing and the formation of startups, while also encouraging corporate collaboration with industrial organizations.

Kohlberg assembled a team possessing substantial industry expertise and robust technical backgrounds. Collectively, they fostered a proactive atmosphere where OTD members act as the primary liaison for Harvard researchers, facilitating industry partnerships and entrepreneurial initiatives. Under Kohlberg’s guidance, there was a transformation in how Harvard engaged with the commercialization of innovations generated in its laboratories; the University’s approach became increasingly supportive and involved, accelerating the establishment of startups and pursuing industry relations to advance the University’s scientific endeavors.

“Investments in science propel the advancement of knowledge, stimulate progress, and foster economic growth. This sense of purpose resonates throughout Harvard’s innovation ecosystem, and we are thankful for the leadership role Isaac held in nurturing a vibrant culture of discovery and innovation,” remarked Harvard University Provost John Manning.

Kohlberg is widely acknowledged for his foresight in establishing strong partnerships between academia and industry, along with creating funding frameworks that bridge the essential development gap between academic inquiry and practical therapies or applications. Under his guidance, OTD initiated three accelerator funds: the Blavatnik Biomedical Accelerator, the Grid Accelerator, and the Climate and Sustainability Translational Fund. These projects supply critical financing and business support to translational research endeavors. As a result, these accelerators have been pivotal in helping research teams commercialize their breakthroughs, leading to the formation of numerous startups and licensed technologies stemming from foundational research conducted at Harvard.

These accelerators have backed hundreds of research initiatives, launched many startups, and attracted millions in industry and venture funding back to Harvard. For instance, research supported by these accelerators has led to pioneering cancer therapies licensed to biotech companies, a startup innovating a new class of antibiotics developed by Harvard chemists, and Harvard-originated technologies that are now included in products across the globe.

Moreover, during Kohlberg’s leadership, the University established landmark partnerships with international corporations. These affiliations provided not just research funding — industry-sponsored research more than doubled during his leadership — but also injected new vigor and opportunities into innovations being developed at Harvard.

In the past five years alone, advancements in Harvard research have resulted in the inception of 96 startups raising nearly $2.8 billion, over 2,000 reports of innovations, 897 U.S. patents owned by Harvard, and $300 million in research funding through industrial collaborations.

Importantly, Kohlberg was also committed to preserving academic independence and making a broad societal impact. Harvard’s approach to corporate partnerships — an initiative that has evolved into a strong collaboration among OTD, the Office of the Vice Provost for Research, and others — ensures that faculty members direct research priorities and that discoveries, even when commercialized, are made available for humanitarian licensing or application in developing regions.

Kohlberg departs with a program acclaimed nationally as a benchmark of excellence — one that merges deep knowledge in industry relations, commercialization, and venture creation with a uniquely Harvard-oriented sense of responsibility towards society.

“As I embark on the next chapter of my life, I am immensely proud of all we have achieved together,” Kohlberg reflected. “Harvard’s community has demonstrated what is possible when exceptional ideas converge with entrepreneurial drive, intelligent funding, and a commitment to the public good. The next wave of discovery and impact is just commencing.”

Prior to joining Harvard in 2005, Kohlberg served as the CEO of Tel Aviv University’s Economic Corporation. From 1989 to 2000, he occupied various roles fostering innovation at New York University, including vice provost, vice president for industrial connections, and head of the NYU School of Medicine’s Office of Science and Research. Between 1982 and 1989, he functioned as CEO of YEDA, the commercial branch of the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel.

Harvard will initiate a search for Kohlberg’s successor in the upcoming weeks, and Kohlberg has pledged to act as an adviser to the University.