Sustainability Connect Panel with Glen Comiso, James May, Jinane Abounadi, and Sarah Gallop

1. Glen A. Comiso | Sustainability Connect | May 8, 2017
A Learning Exchange
Exploring the Intersections between Innovation
and Campus Sustainability at MIT

2. 2
Glen Comiso (moderator)
Senior Director for Institute Affairs,
Office of the President
James May
Senior Project Manager, Campus Planning
Jinane Abounadi
Executive Director, MIT Sandbox Initiative
Program
Sarah Gallop
Co-Director, Office of Government & Community
Relations,
Office of the EVP
Panel Discussion
Institute perspective
Innovation of MIT campus
Accelerating innovation at MIT
Innovation ecosystem

3. 3
How is innovation at MIT unique?
How is MIT enhancing innovation?
How does innovation connect with sustainability?
Institute perspective on
innovation

4. What does
MIT do?

5. 5
Innovation at
intersection of “mind
and hand”

6. 6
Innovation integral part of
MIT experience
Student activities Community
Spaces
Education

7. 7
Supporting the Innovation Process
Bringing Ideas to Impact

8. 8
External collaboration critical for innovation
Accelerators
Industry
Start-ups
Venture Capital
Support Services
Non-profits
Universities
Government

9. 9
Problem: Existing innovation pipeline system not structured to support complex, slower-
growing concepts that could have huge long-term impact.
Opportunity to develop “innovation orchards”:
 Lost potential: Big ideas not making it to market
 Patient support: Capital and infrastructure
 Access: Specialized equipment and expertise

10. THE ENGINE
=Founder Community
+Specialized Services
+Funding
+Network ofCollaborators
Highlights:
• Announced in October 2016 in new space at 501
Mass. Ave.
• Hired CEO, Katie Rae, in February 2017
• Closed $150M+ fund in April 2017
• Initial companies in Summer 2017

11. 11
Energy storage
Sustainability initiativesNuclear power
Innovating for sustainability
at MIT
Water desalination

12. 12
Today’s discussion
Campus Innovations at MIT
Innovation Programs within MIT
Innovation Ecosystem around MIT

13. A R C H I T E C T U R E A T M I T : A H i s t o r y o f I n n o v a t i o n
T o w a r d a N e w P a r a d i g m
J a m e s M a y , A I A
O f f i c e o f C a m p u s P l a n n i n g

14. A Histor y of I nnovationARCHITECTURE AT MIT:
Design
Design
Design
Construction
Early Releases
1937
• PARADIGM 1
• A modern building in
neo-classical garb
• Building 7
William Bosworth

15. A Histor y of I nnovationARCHITECTURE AT MIT:
1939
• PARADIGM 2
• A modern building
plain and simple
• Building 57
Anderson and
Beckwith

16. A Histor y of I nnovationARCHITECTURE AT MIT:
1949
• PARADIGM 2
• A modern building
plain and simple
• Baker House
Alvar Aalto

17. A Histor y of I nnovationARCHITECTURE AT MIT:
1949
• Moors Hall
• Harvard University

18. A Histor y of I nnovationARCHITECTURE AT MIT:
Toward a New Paradigm
“The era of harm reduction, half steps, and lesser evils is behind us.
As a society, we need to be bold in ways that were once unimaginable.”
- The Bullitt Foundation

19. A Histor y of I nnovationARCHITECTURE AT MIT:
• Sistine Solar PV
Panels
• “We design and install
beautiful solar
systems that
complement your
home because you
shouldn’t have to
sacrifice style for
sustainability”

20. A Histor y of I nnovationARCHITECTURE AT MIT:
2013
• The Bullitt Center
• Seattle, Washington
• Miller Hull Partnership
• The goal of the Bullitt
Center is to drive
change in the
marketplace faster
and further
by showing what’s
possible today.

21. Jinane Abounadi | Executive Director

22. The goal of MIT Sandbox is to lower the barrier for students to experience
hands-on entrepreneurship and accelerate those with more advanced ideas or
technologies.
Experience authentic entrepreneurship
Explore how to get an idea to impact and
learn from failures
WHAT
Entrepreneurship Fellow
coaching
HOW
Mentorship from experienced professionals
Engage with knowledgeable mentors and
potential funders
All 11,000 MIT undergraduate and graduate
students
WHO
Workshops
Corporate/University partnerships
Legal and IP guidance
Networking with MIT and
external innovation ecosystem
Funding $1K-$25K

23. MIT Sandbox secured $2M/year with sponsors and investors to provide seed funding for students to experiment with innovation.
Fall ’16 (125)
76
37
13
7
0 20 40 60 80
$1K
$10K
Pending
Summer ’16 (110)
20
5
15
28
64
$…
$…
$…
Winter ’17 – IAP
• $1K for 24 StartMIT and Fuse teams
Spring ’17
• 80 applicants to over $5K
• 35 are 2nd or 3rd round SB teams
• 180 additional applications
• ~220 teams funded in the Spring

24. MIT Sandbox Innovation Fund Program
Student areas of interest

25. In one year, Sandbox funded over 30 students focused on
sustainability. MIT could provide pilots and accelerate teams.
Categories Problems Technologies
Smart Cities
Environment
Energy
Water
Transportation
Productivity
Health
Well-being
Ocean Health
Food
Alternative sources
Economics
Clean Water
Sensors
Smart Phones
Drones
Autonomous Vehicles
Big Data/AI
IoT
Networks
Social media
Renewable Energy
Nuclear Energy
Materials
Bio sensors

26. Density of Industry Transportationiversity & Research Sense of Place
gaged Civic Association Community Collaborations Sustainable Mixed-UseKey Catalysts
Successful Innovation Ecosystems
(and a focus on Kendall Square)
Sarah Gallop
Co-Director, Office of Government &
Community Relations

27. Sustainability Opportunities in Kendall
Advocate for Transportation
• Kendall Square Association
• Kendall Square Mobility Task Force
• Pedestrian and bicycle amenities
• Access MIT
Transportation
John Wilcox

28. Grow Collaborations with Nearby Neighborhoods
• Educational programming
• Mentoring/tutoring
• Workforce training
• Affordable housing
Community Collaborations
Sustainability Opportunities in Kendall

29. Preserve the Heritage of Old Districts
• New ideas like old buildings (Jane Jacobs)
• Diversity of architecture & sense of history
Model, Lead & Share Best Practices
• KSA Ecodistrict Committee
• Cambridge Compact for a Sustainable Future
Sustainable Mixed-Use
Sustainability Opportunities in Kendall
John Wilcox

30. Questions & discussion