The Master of Engineering Management (MEM) professional degree program at Duke University develops future industry leaders by integrating management, business, and innovation education with real-world experience. Commercializing Technology Innovations (CTI) is a Fall elective designed to demystify the journey from idea creation to value extraction.  Key CTI lecture topics include intellectual property fundamentals, technology marketing, invention evaluation, market intelligence, primary research, business plan development, value estimation, and license negotiations.    

Professor Holmes designed CTI in 2005 drawing from his experience in engineering, business, consulting, and entrepreneurship.  In 2000, Professor Holmes founded Acuity Edge - a consulting firm that provides innovation management and business strategy services to government, university, corporate, and investor clients.  

A course practicum is a central component of the CTI experience.  Professor Holmes harvests real-world projects (innovations that someone is trying to commercialize) from a host of sources (e.g., professors, entrepreneurs, investors, universities, and companies) to serve as class projects.  Student teams are assigned to selected projects that begin in early September and end the first week in December.