MIT’s The Engine is at the forefront of helping “tough tech” companies bring transformative ideas from research into the real world. These innovations tackle some of the world’s hardest challenges, including climate change and clean energy (e.g., fusion power, carbon-free cement), human health and biotechnology (e.g., cell therapies, immunotherapies, biomedical devices), and advanced systems and infrastructure (e.g., AI chips, quantum computing, robotics, advanced manufacturing).

Please join us to welcome, The Engine’s CEO Katie Rae and President Israel Ruiz to the Policy Salon breakfast. They will discuss how Japan's innovation ecosystem can collaborate with The Engine to accelerate the path from concept to commercialization. Moderated by Jesper Koll, the discussion will explore how MIT’s approach helps bring bold ideas from academia and research hubs into scalable ventures, driving long-term global impact. Together, we will examine the opportunities Japan offers to the tough tech ecosystem.

Event and Registration Details

November 5, 2024, 8:00 – 9:15 a.m. (JST)

• This event will be conducted in in-person and online, and registration is required.
• In-person participation is for members and guests only. Please pay your fee by credit card (Visa or Mastercard only) or at the door.
• Online participation is open to the public and free.

Speakers’ Bio

Katie Rae
CEO & Managing Partner of The Engine

Katie Rae is the CEO and Managing Partner of The Engine, founded by MIT to support tough tech startups that address global challenges like climate change and biotechnology. Since 2017, she has led The Engine’s efforts to transform breakthrough innovations into scalable ventures.

Previously, Katie was Managing Director of Techstars Boston, where she guided early-stage companies to success. With over a decade of experience in startup acceleration and venture investment, she is a leader in building ecosystems that help innovators bring transformative ideas from the lab to market. Katie holds degrees from Oberlin College and Yale Business School.

Israel Ruiz
President & Co-Founder of The Engine

Israel Ruiz is the President and Co-Founder of The Engine, where he focuses on scaling tough tech companies solving major societal challenges. As MIT’s former Executive Vice President and Treasurer, he played a pivotal role in launching The Engine in 2016. Israel’s expertise lies in bridging academic innovation and commercialization, making him integral to The Engine’s success in advancing groundbreaking technologies. His leadership has driven investment in sectors like energy, quantum computing, and biotechnology. Israel holds degrees from MIT and Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya.