Rocky Hill, Conn., September 5, 2013 – Connecticut Innovations (CI), the state’s quasi-public authority responsible for growing Connecticut businesses through innovative financing and strategic assistance, today announced the appointment of Jeremy Crisp, Ph.D., to the new position of executive vice president and chief innovation officer. In this role, Crisp will work closely alongside bioscience organizations in Connecticut to recognize and transform the considerable talent and intellectual capital of the state’s institutions and entrepreneurs into measurable economic benefit. This move will underpin the existing bioscience expertise and experience within CI, which will manage the recently announced $200 million, 10-year Bioscience Innovation Fund on behalf of the state.
Crisp joins CI from Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, where he headed the global alliance management function responsible for ensuring that all major R&D alliances were rigorously managed to leverage maximum business impact from the innovative science. Prior to this, he spent six years with Pfizer Worldwide Business Development, where he planned, executed and managed global R&D partnering deals with universities, research institutes, biotechnology companies and others. This included heading business development for the precision (personalized) medicine group from 2008 to 2011.
Before this, Crisp was a technology entrepreneur based in Cambridge, UK, where he was co-founder and commercial director of Meridica, the successful drug delivery spinout from PA Consulting Group sold to Pfizer in 2004. Preceding Meridica, he held senior positions at PA Consulting’s technology division in Cambridge, UK, where he was responsible for managing the division’s IP portfolio together with its licensing and contracting functions.
Crisp also has experience working in the university technology transfer arena. At the beginning of his career, he worked for the University of Warwick and the University of Sheffield negotiating collaborative research agreements and out-licensing university intellectual property.
“We are extremely pleased to have Jeremy on board,” said Claire Leonardi, chief executive officer of CI. “It is unusual to find someone with such a depth and breadth of experience—someone who has enabled bioscientific innovation from so many different angles. Jeremy’s perspectives and leadership will be key to CI’s success in managing the Bioscience Innovation Fund and driving bioscience initiatives throughout the state.”
“It is a privilege to be joining CI at such an exciting time,” said Crisp. “I’m very impressed with the strategic investments being made in the biosciences by Connecticut. Our continued investment and support of bioscience entrepreneurs and businesses is going to be key to the future health and prosperity of the state.”
About Connecticut Innovations Inc.
Connecticut Innovations (CI) is the leading source of financing and ongoing support for Connecticut's innovative, growing companies. To maximize the growth potential of each business, CI tailors its solutions and often combines its funds with resources from other financial leaders to provide venture capital and strategic support for early-stage technology companies; flexible loans for established companies with new innovations; grants that support innovation and collaboration; and connections to its well-established network of partners and professionals. Through all these initiatives, CI has helped bring $4 billion in financing to Connecticut companies. The state’s most active early-stage investor, CI has created more than 26,000 jobs. For more information on CI, please visit www.ctinnovations.com.
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