Education
Ph.D.: Polymer Science & Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst
BTech: Chemical Engineering, IIT Bombay
Biosketch
Makarand “Chips” Chipalkatti, Ph.D., is recognized as one of the pioneers in LED lighting and as an industry leader in lighting, smart cities, sustainability and circular economy, as well as energy policy. Chips specializes in the technology to business and commercialization transition. He leads a consulting practice focusing on innovation and entrepreneurship with special emphasis on the commercialization of innovation in industries undergoing disruptive transformation. He serves globally as an industry consultant for product, service, and market strategy. His clients range from early seed stage companies seeking scale, to large global companies launching new businesses. Previously, Chips was Senior Director for Emerging Market Initiatives for Osram Sylvania where his primary role was as corporate entrepreneur and founder of Osram’s LED Lighting. He has been responsible for a series of successful new business and technology launches during his corporate career which culminated in his role as the Head of Strategic Innovation Management, and later as a technology-to-business creation consultant.
He has been a leadership member of the energy policy solid state lighting community through his professional career. His early work included research on advanced materials and organic light sources (OLEDs). Chips received a Ph.D. in Polymer Science & Engineering from the UMass Amherst, M.S. Chemical Engineering from Michigan Tech, and a B.Tech. Chemical Engineering from IIT Bombay. Chips continues active engagement in the new ventures’ ecosystem as advisor, investor, and mentor for faculty and students at UMass Lowell where he has served as Entrepreneur in Residence, as well as at Boston University, Hult, and TiE ScaleUP. He is one of the volunteer managers of the Corporate Entrepreneurship Network, and in this role also collaborates with the Babson Innovation and Entrepreneurship faculty and the Center for Business Innovation in Oxford UK.
Expertise: Innovation Management, Entrepreneurship, Market and Business Strategy, New Product Launch. Focus on supporting new business starts in large and medium companies seeking growth, startups and providing executive coaching. Mentoring business students and entrepreneurs to establish and scale their business.