Richard Cahoon

Richard Cahoon is a Visiting Lecturer in Design Tech and a 40+ year practitioner in invention, intellectual property (IP), technology development, entrepreneurship/intrapreneurship, and innovation, with expertise in R&D management, technology commercialization, IP valuation, and venture creation.

Cahoon has led many new-technology projects for universities, governments, and companies in over twenty-five countries, involving project design and management, high-level advisory and mentoring, and consultant to the World Bank, USAID, and the United Nations. 

As advisor to US Departments of Commerce and State and World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) he led comprehensive, multi-country programs that foster economic development in developing countries using IP strategies.

Cahoon's IP expertise includes M&A, litigation, and IP/technology valuation. He specializes in the implications of invention and IP assets for individuals, institutions, companies, and innovation ecosystems. He is an inventor-patentee. He founded or participated in numerous start-ups. He was the Director of Cornell's Tech Transfer Office for twenty years.

Also, Professor-adjunct, Global Development at Cornell, focusing on IP for economic and social development. BA History & Chemistry University of Utah; BA Political Science, Biology, University of Utah; MS Bioprocess Systems, Montana State U.; Ph.D. Natural Resources, Cornell University.

Cahoon specialized in IP implications, inventiveness, and consequences for IP asset creation, using inventive assets for venture creation, product, economic development, and the public good. His technical expertise includes applied biology, bioprocess engineering, and agritech. He is currently expanding his scope to design, creative arts, and social entrepreneurship. Cahoon's special interests include inventiveness across disciplines, applied biology and bioprocess systems, IP strategies, invention, innovation, entrepreneurship & intrapreneurship.

Classes (Selected)

• DESIGN 6197 - Special Topics in Design - Invention and Design
• GDEV 4050/5050 Invention & IP Management