AI is no longer just a concept in IP. It’s part of how teams work, make decisions and create value. In this episode I talk to Dr. Marcia Chang, VP of IP Operations and Client Success at Tradespace. Dr. Chang has over 20 years of experience in IP strategy, operations and commercialization and has a unique blend of engineering and legal expertise. 

She has a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Cornell University and a J.D. from Santa Clara University she’s held leadership roles at companies like Applied Materials, Metawave Corporation and Hewlett Packard Enterprise. She was also recognized as one of the Top 50 Women Leaders in Tech Law. At Tradespace she’s now at the forefront of using AI driven approaches to transform how IP is managed and commercialized. 

Dr. Chang explains how Tradespace is helping universities and companies streamline the entire IP lifecycle. By using AI to simplify invention disclosures, evaluate technical content and identify commercial opportunities the platform gives IP teams clearer insights and greater strategic impact. For Tech Transfer offices with limited resources and growing demands Tradespace is a practical way to prioritise what matters and move more technologies to real-world application. 

We discuss adapting to new technology with a curiosity and willingness to learn. Along with practical tips for building smarter, more connected systems. Dr. Chang also reflects on how AI went from being a tool she was sceptical of to one she now advocates for. 

In This Episode:

[01:41] Dr. Chang gives us an overview of Tradespace. Its mission is to empower IP teams to focus on strategy and unlock the value of their portfolios.

[02:29] The name Tradespace comes from mapping choices onto a multi-dimensional trade space. Teams can weigh alternatives, trade-offs, and find the optimal path.

[03:15] It's their goal to help teams manage IP better and even make IP better.

[04:02] Tactically Tradespace can help IP teams translate technical concepts in the business concepts. Strategically they focus on communicating more value.

[05:54] They help teams sift through the technical information in a short amount of time.

[06:08] Key tools that Tradespace offers. They have tools that help with invention disclosure and use AI to make the submission process easier.

[08:34] They have the ability to streamline the entire IP process in a single end-to-end platform.

[09:27] The data is also very secure.

[10:31] How they help bring innovations to market. They provide AI-assisted commercialization with automatic matching of potential partners along with generating text summaries.

[11:57] They've helped customers identify dormant IP assets and uncovered use cases that hadn't been thought of before.

[14:22] We talk about the specific ways that AI is reshaping the field of IP management. This includes better portfolio management and faster decision making.

[18:22] Getting comfortable with AI begins with education.

[20:55] Challenges in tech transfer today include budget restraints and having to do more with less. AI tools can help with the entire process making things faster, cheaper, and better.

[23:03] They've seen backlogs cleared. It's like adding a member to your team.

[23:57] Potential trends include more transformative technologies unlocking innovation.

[26:03] Dr. Chang talks about her inspiration and how she always took the road less traveled.

[29:56] Valuable lessons include always being humble.

[32:54] Tradespace has unlocked over $100 million of potential revenue for clients. They hope to scale as AI evolves.

[34:56] AI is evolving to become a partner in our work.

Resources: 

Tradespace

Dr. Marcia Chang - LinkedIn

Tomorrow's Lawyers: An Introduction to your Future