Draper Official to Join Gov. Patrick on Innovation Economy Mission to Israel
Dr.Raanan Miller of Draper Laboratory will join Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick and a coalition of state officials and business leaders on a trade mission to Israel to explore opportunities in areas including information technology, clean energy, and life sciences. The delegation will arrive in Israel on March 7, and later travel to the United Kingdom.
The Massachusetts Innovation Economy Partnership Mission 2011 will explore growth opportunities within Massachusetts’ innovation-based industries and areas of common interest between the state’s established and emerging partners in Israel.
“I’m happy to have Raanan Miller of Draper joining our great coalition of leaders on this trade mission,” said Gov. Patrick. “Raanan is at the forefront of our innovation economy, and we know his expertise will go a long way towards forging lasting economic ties and partnerships between Massachusetts and Israel.”
Since beginning its energy initiative in 2008, Draper has partnered with utilities and other organizations in the development of systems-based clean, efficient and secure energy solutions in production, transmission, distribution, and end use. For example, it has developed and deployed a Loss on Ignition sensor (LOI) for monitoring and improving combustion efficiency of coal power plants. Draper is also a pioneer in the development of microfluidics and tissue engineering and other innovative life science technologies.
At Draper, Miller works to build relationships with potential sponsors and collaborators and develops new business in clean energy. He also helps the Lab identify new opportunities in life sciences.
Miller received his Ph.D. in electrical engineering from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), and holds an MBA from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Sloan School of Management. He was founder and chief technical officer of Sionex Corp., a Draper spinoff company focused on commercializing breakthrough chemical and biological sensor chips and systems.
Miller will contribute his expertise in those areas to help Gov. Patrick assess economic development opportunities that could lead to Israeli companies creating jobs in Massachusetts through establishment of local operations. During the trip, he will take part in roundtables, company visits and meetings with government and business officials along with Gov. Patrick and the delegation in Tel Aviv, Haifa, and Jerusalem.
Nearly 100 companies with Israeli founders or Israeli-licensed technologies operate in Massachusetts today. In 2009, these companies employed nearly 6,000 people and generated $2.4 billion in direct revenue for the state. Local firms exported over $180 million worth of goods to Israel in 2009 and, at 12.35 percent, the United States is Israel’s largest source of imports.
More information and regular updates about the trip will be posted at www.mass.gov/governor/innovationmission beginning March 7.