WRCB, IIT BOMBAY: COMMERCIALIZING DEEP-TECH INNOVATION
CASE STUDY SOLUTION
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SYNOPSIS
The Wadhwani Research Centre for Bioengineering (WRCB) at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
Sa
(IITB), established in 2014 with support from the Wadhwani Foundation, entered its transformative second
phase after a successful initial five years. With over 40 professors from nine departments involved,
WRCB’s phase one had yielded 316 publications and 38 patent applications and spawned two
entrepreneurial ventures. Heading phase two were Debjani Paul, the professor in charge, and Abdur Rub,
n
the chief executive officer, who were focused on propelling deep-tech research toward commercialization.
As the disruptive impact of the COVID-19 pandemic subsided in late 2021, Paul and Rub looked toward
tio
the future with new hope and clear goal: to enable academic researchers to secure follow-on funding crucial
for sustaining momentum beyond WRCB’s initial catalytic support. This initiative aimed to cement
WRCB’s status as a global leader in bioengineering translational research, bridging academia and industry
lu
to overcome funding gaps and nurture innovation in a dynamic academic setting.
So
OBJECTIVES
• Outline the journey of deep-tech innovations and define technology readiness levels (TRLs) in the
research translation journey.
• Explain the need for an ecosystem for translating fundamental research into deep-tech innovations.
• Define the importance of various stakeholders during different phases of research commercialization.
• Explain the roles of an ESO, the interface between an ESO and the host institute, the evolving
organizational structure and processes of an ESO, and the challenges faced by ESOs in supporting
translational research.
The Case Solution Starts From page 5
,ASSIGNMENT QUESTIONS
1. What are deep-tech innovations, and how are these different from conventional innovations? What is
the importance of TRLs in the research-to-commercialization journey of deep-tech innovations?
2. From the perspective of an ESO providing catalytic funding to the best-in-class academic researchers
at IITB, which critical challenges must WRCB address to enable its researchers to get follow-on
funding and other resources for advancing these projects toward commercialization?
3. As an adviser to WRCB’s leadership team, recommend various initiatives the team should implement
to enable researchers to get follow-on funds and other additional resources for research
commercialization.
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The Case Solution Starts From page 5
,ANALYSIS
1. What are deep-tech innovations, and how are these different from conventional innovations? What
is the importance of TRLs in the research-to-commercialization journey of deep-tech innovations?
The case deals with the challenges faced by a deep-tech ESO in commercializing academic research. The
ESO, which started with the support of philanthropic funds, had to think of various ways through to support
the principal investigators (PI) beyond this catalytic funding. begin by asking students
about the broad sections of the case and, based on this discussion, help them visualize the overall case in three
broad sections—(1) the entrepreneurial ecosystem and deep-tech innovations; (2) the establishment of WRCB
and phase one; and (3) WRCB’s phase two challenges and initiatives—and list these sections as headings on
the board (see Exhibit -1). Then ask students to quickly summarize the key points under each of these
sections and encourage them to populate the rest of this table.
Once the case facts have been summarized, ask, “What is deep-tech, and what important
e
aspects of deep-tech must be understood by stakeholders of a deep-tech ESO before they commit
resources?” This question enables students to first grasp the fundamental building blocks of deep-tech and
pl
technology commercialization; only then will they be able to appreciate and understand the role of an ESO
like WRCB. help the students connect this with the information provided in the case
m
(see Entrepreneurial Support Organizations), which identifies key roles and challenges for ESOs.
Sa
n
tio
lu
So
The Case Solution Starts From page 5
, EXHIBIT -2: DEEP-TECH INNOVATIONS VERSUS CONVENTIONAL INNOVATIONS
Parameters of
Deep-tech innovations Conventional innovations
differentiation
R&D investment Requires significant R&D investments. Typically involves lower or no R&D
and cost to The funds required to achieve an MVP are investments.
minimum viable significantly higher.
product*
Resources (other In most cases, these resources are not The resources required can easily be
than funding) available within one institution or one found in one location, and they are
geographic location. Various institutional easy to source.
mechanisms are required to scout and
arrange the scattered resources.
Regulatory
challenges
e
pl
m
Sa
n
tio
lu
So
The Case Solution Starts From page 5
CASE STUDY SOLUTION
e
pl
m
SYNOPSIS
The Wadhwani Research Centre for Bioengineering (WRCB) at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
Sa
(IITB), established in 2014 with support from the Wadhwani Foundation, entered its transformative second
phase after a successful initial five years. With over 40 professors from nine departments involved,
WRCB’s phase one had yielded 316 publications and 38 patent applications and spawned two
entrepreneurial ventures. Heading phase two were Debjani Paul, the professor in charge, and Abdur Rub,
n
the chief executive officer, who were focused on propelling deep-tech research toward commercialization.
As the disruptive impact of the COVID-19 pandemic subsided in late 2021, Paul and Rub looked toward
tio
the future with new hope and clear goal: to enable academic researchers to secure follow-on funding crucial
for sustaining momentum beyond WRCB’s initial catalytic support. This initiative aimed to cement
WRCB’s status as a global leader in bioengineering translational research, bridging academia and industry
lu
to overcome funding gaps and nurture innovation in a dynamic academic setting.
So
OBJECTIVES
• Outline the journey of deep-tech innovations and define technology readiness levels (TRLs) in the
research translation journey.
• Explain the need for an ecosystem for translating fundamental research into deep-tech innovations.
• Define the importance of various stakeholders during different phases of research commercialization.
• Explain the roles of an ESO, the interface between an ESO and the host institute, the evolving
organizational structure and processes of an ESO, and the challenges faced by ESOs in supporting
translational research.
The Case Solution Starts From page 5
,ASSIGNMENT QUESTIONS
1. What are deep-tech innovations, and how are these different from conventional innovations? What is
the importance of TRLs in the research-to-commercialization journey of deep-tech innovations?
2. From the perspective of an ESO providing catalytic funding to the best-in-class academic researchers
at IITB, which critical challenges must WRCB address to enable its researchers to get follow-on
funding and other resources for advancing these projects toward commercialization?
3. As an adviser to WRCB’s leadership team, recommend various initiatives the team should implement
to enable researchers to get follow-on funds and other additional resources for research
commercialization.
e
pl
m
Sa
n
tio
lu
So
The Case Solution Starts From page 5
,ANALYSIS
1. What are deep-tech innovations, and how are these different from conventional innovations? What
is the importance of TRLs in the research-to-commercialization journey of deep-tech innovations?
The case deals with the challenges faced by a deep-tech ESO in commercializing academic research. The
ESO, which started with the support of philanthropic funds, had to think of various ways through to support
the principal investigators (PI) beyond this catalytic funding. begin by asking students
about the broad sections of the case and, based on this discussion, help them visualize the overall case in three
broad sections—(1) the entrepreneurial ecosystem and deep-tech innovations; (2) the establishment of WRCB
and phase one; and (3) WRCB’s phase two challenges and initiatives—and list these sections as headings on
the board (see Exhibit -1). Then ask students to quickly summarize the key points under each of these
sections and encourage them to populate the rest of this table.
Once the case facts have been summarized, ask, “What is deep-tech, and what important
e
aspects of deep-tech must be understood by stakeholders of a deep-tech ESO before they commit
resources?” This question enables students to first grasp the fundamental building blocks of deep-tech and
pl
technology commercialization; only then will they be able to appreciate and understand the role of an ESO
like WRCB. help the students connect this with the information provided in the case
m
(see Entrepreneurial Support Organizations), which identifies key roles and challenges for ESOs.
Sa
n
tio
lu
So
The Case Solution Starts From page 5
, EXHIBIT -2: DEEP-TECH INNOVATIONS VERSUS CONVENTIONAL INNOVATIONS
Parameters of
Deep-tech innovations Conventional innovations
differentiation
R&D investment Requires significant R&D investments. Typically involves lower or no R&D
and cost to The funds required to achieve an MVP are investments.
minimum viable significantly higher.
product*
Resources (other In most cases, these resources are not The resources required can easily be
than funding) available within one institution or one found in one location, and they are
geographic location. Various institutional easy to source.
mechanisms are required to scout and
arrange the scattered resources.
Regulatory
challenges
e
pl
m
Sa
n
tio
lu
So
The Case Solution Starts From page 5
