The Industry Side of the Table: How Samsung Evaluates University Partnerships with David Chang

If you've ever wondered what's actually going on inside a company's head when a university comes knocking with a new technology, today's episode is for you. We're getting into the real mechanics of university-industry partnerships and what makes them work, what slows them down, and where the biggest opportunities are being left on the table.

My guest today has lived this from just about every angle imaginable. He started his career in Ecuador, where he built the country's first university tech transfer office essentially from scratch. He then co-founded an ed-tech startup that turned profitable in its first year, led digital innovation licensing at Duke University, and now sits on the industry side at Samsung Research America, where he manages university collaboration programs and serves as a bridge between academic research and one of the world's largest tech companies.

In this conversation, we get into what Samsung actually looks for when a university brings an opportunity forward, how they think about technology at different stages of readiness, and why the human factor in these relationships matters more than most people realize. We also talk about how fast-moving fields like AI are changing the rules of the game for tech transfer professionals, and he shares some really practical advice on how to position technologies so companies lean in rather than walk away.

In This Episode:

[03:12] David Chang shares how curiosity and a belief in innovation as an engine for economic development shaped his global career in tech transfer.

[03:58] His path spans building Ecuador’s first tech transfer office, founding a startup, working at Duke, and now leading university partnerships at Samsung.

[04:41] Early work in Ecuador showed how innovation ecosystems develop slowly through trust and incremental collaboration.

[05:36] In emerging markets, university partnerships often begin with student projects before growing into research and commercialization efforts.

[06:44] David explains how seeing both the university and corporate sides of tech transfer reshaped his perspective.

[08:09] Relationships between tech transfer offices and industry partners often drive successful collaborations more than databases or programs.

[09:47] Industry timelines can be tight, and lengthy contract edits can create friction in university–industry partnerships.

[11:13] At Samsung’s LeapU program, three factors help advance a university technology: differentiation, clear milestones, and strategic fit.

[12:08] Demonstrations that spark an internal “aha moment” can help companies rally support for a new technology.

[13:27] Samsung evaluates proposals through a balance of technology push and market demand.

[14:16] The company organizes partnerships by technology readiness through the START, LeapU, and LeapS programs.

[14:58] START accepts early research ideas, while LeapU and LeapS rely on trusted relationships and invitations.

[15:43] Strong university partners often begin with deep expertise in a specific research area.

[16:29] Tech transfer offices add value by mentoring researchers on IP strategy and identifying entrepreneurial investigators.

[17:52] Emerging technologies like AI and robotics are pushing companies toward new collaboration models.

[18:41] Development speed matters in AI, where innovations can become obsolete within a short time.

[19:36] Platform technologies with modular components are often easier for companies to adopt than standalone inventions.

[21:18] Cultural factors such as flexibility and ongoing dialogue often distinguish the best university partners.

[22:44] Researchers interested in collaborating with Samsung should highlight their research background and concrete collaboration ideas.

[24:03] Combining technical depth with a strong business case can help tech transfer professionals position inventions more effectively.

[25:32] Industry conferences like AUTM provide valuable opportunities to build long-term collaboration networks.

[26:18] Reflecting on his career, David notes how working on both sides of tech transfer deepened his understanding of how innovation moves to market.

Resources:

AUTM

Samsung Research America

START

LEAP-U

LEAP-S