One Year On: Reflecting On The IDPI Conference And the Future of Inclusive Innovation

The Innovator Diversity Pilots Initiative (IDPI) includes a group of researchers working with firms and organizations to advance diversity and inclusion in innovation through rigorous research and piloting projects. It supports collaboration between academics, firms, and policymakers to develop evidence-based strategies and share best practices, and hosts conferences approximately every two years highlighting these themes.

On September 20, 2024, the second IDPI Conference convened in Atlanta, GA, bringing together thought leaders, academics, legal professionals, and government representatives to explore and advance diversity in innovation and intellectual property. Hosted by Emory University School of Law, the conference featured a robust agenda of panels, presentations, and discussions aimed at fostering inclusive innovation environments for the benefit of individuals and society at large.

Morning Session Highlights

Vice Dean Joanna Shepherd and Professor Margo Bagley of Emory Law opened the Conference. The opening panel, moderated by Professor Colleen Chien of Berkeley Law, examined the progress made since the USPTO’s Progress and Potential Report. Presenters shared insights from various pilot programs and research initiatives: Jillian Grennan (professor of economics at Emory University) discussed the innovator-inventor gap. Gauri Subramani (professor of management at Lehigh University) highlighted gender disparities in patent citations, while Jason Sandvik (professor of finance at University of Arizona) presented findings on mentoring and innovation. Additionally, Holly Fechner (Executive Director Invent Together, Partner at Covington & Burling LLP, and visiting lecturer at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government) shared results from the Invent Together Trust Survey, and Valencia Martin Wallace (Deputy Commissioner for Patents at USPTO) introduced the National Strategy for Inclusive Innovation.

Following a break, the session continued with practical insights from the Diversity Pledge, moderated by Suzanne Harrison (of US IP Alliance (USIPA) and Increasing Diversity in Innovation (IDII)). Speakers from Western Digital (Sabra-Anne Truesdale, Associate General Counsel for IP), Meta (Jeremiah Chan, Head of Patents, Licensing and Open Source), and Pure Storage (Frances Winkler, member of the IP Operations and Innovations Program) shared their experiences implementing best practices to support inventors.

At lunch, attendees enjoyed a fireside chat between Derrick Brent, then Deputy Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property at the USPTO, and Donnie Beamer, Jr., Senior Technology Advisor to the Mayor of Atlanta, moderated by Braxton Davis, Associate General Counsel at Meta.

The keynote address by Petra Moser (professor of economics at NYU) explored how shifts in talent allocation could close the innovation gender gap. The morning concluded with a panel on law firm diversity initiatives, moderated by Lateef Mtima (professor of law at Howard University), featuring representatives from Schwegman (Tony Josephson), Finnegan (Kara Specht), and Wilson Sonsini (Derrick Rowe).

Afternoon Session: Academic and Practice Tracks

The afternoon featured two parallel tracks. The academic track, organized by Jillian Grennan of Emory University, showcased cutting-edge research: Gaia Dossi (postdoctoral research fellow of economics at the University College London) presented on race and science, Roger Masclans (PhD Candidate in Strategy at Duke University) discussed measuring the commercial potential of scientific innovations, Davidson Heath (professor of finance at University of Utah) examined teamwork in open-source software, and April Burrage (Proposita Fellow in the Management Science and Engineering department at Stanford University) analyzed racial and ethnic representation in high-tech entrepreneurship.

A lightning round moderated by Professor Alicia Hughes of the Southern University Law Center featured early-stage research on patent law reforms, diversity in multinational corporations, and innovation strategies for minority-owned startups. Presenters included Jordi Goodman (law professor at Chicago-Kent College of Law), Mike Schuster (professor of legal studies at University of Georgia), Ina Ganguli (professor of economics at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst), Alessandra L. González (PhD student at Duke University), and Tabrez Ebrahim (professor of law at Lewis & Clerk Law School).

The practice track focused on transiting into the patent profession. Braxton Davis (Meta, also of National Council on Patent Practicum (NCPP)) moderated a panel on the future of patent drafting and prosecution in the age of AI, with insights from Valencia Martin Wallace (USPTO), Greg Kirsch (Head of IP Practice at Smith, Gambrell, and Russell), and Kean DeCarlo (Partner at Womble Bond Dickinson). A fireside chat with Braxton Davis and Elaine Spector (Partner at Harrity & Harrity) addressed strategies for retaining talent in law firms.

Closing Plenary and Reception

The day concluded with a plenary session moderated by Paul R. Gugliuzza (professor of law at The University of Texas School of law), reflecting on the current state and future of diversity in innovation. Panelists included Lisa Nguyen (Partner at Paul Hastings), Farheena Rasheed (Deputy General Counsel for IP law at the USPTO), Katherine “Kassie” Helm (Partner at Dechert), Danielle Coleman (Senior Associate General Counsel for Global Litigation at VMWare), and Keith Robinson (professor of law at Wake Forest University).

The collaboration between the National Council on Patent Practicum (NCCP) and Emory University has been instrumental in the program’s success. Braxton Davis, a key figure in this partnership, has played a pivotal role in transitioning engineers into the patent profession. NCPP is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, based in Atlanta, GA, which “oversees the development and operation of the Certified Patent Practitioner (CPP) program” which is a credential for individuals who have “demonstrated experience, proficiency, knowledge, and understanding of patent drafting and prosecution.” NCPP also runs a Patent Pipeline Program (PPP) aimed at assisting engineers transitioning into the patent profession by providing training, mentorship, and placement support.

The conference wrapped up with an NCPP graduation ceremony and a closing reception, which celebrated the achievements and ongoing efforts to build a more inclusive innovation ecosystem. The graduation marked a significant milestone in the journey of its graduates. This event not only highlighted the achievements of the graduates but also underscored the importance of inclusion in the innovation space.

One Year On…

The Innovator Diversity Pilots Conference underscored the importance of data-driven strategies, collaborative initiatives, and inclusive practices in shaping the future of innovation. By bringing together diverse voices and perspectives, the event fostered meaningful dialogue and laid the groundwork for continued progress in intellectual property and beyond.

The conference sparked the writing of “Inclusive Innovation in an Age of AI: Insights from the Innovator Diversity Pilots Initiative“ by Margo A. Bagley and Colleen Chien, which is expected to be published as a chapter of Inclusive Innovation in the Age of AI and Big Data, forthcoming from Oxford University Press in 2026. In that piece, the authors document how barriers to participation persist throughout the innovation lifecycle, from ideation to commercialization, with frictions such as social dynamics, institutional opacity, and systemic bias disproportionately impacting women and underrepresented minorities. Drawing from their work directing the Innovator Diversity Pilots Initiative, Bagley and Chien showcase how targeted interventions including education, mentorship, institutional process redesign, and public-private policy leadership can foster greater inclusivity. The authors explore AI’s potential as a supportive tool to bridge social gaps and enhance evaluation fairness, while cautioning that human relationships and institutional commitment remain central, emphasizing that AI should augment rather than replace the systemic changes needed to build truly inclusive innovation ecosystems.

As Professor Margo A. Bagley of Emory Law reflects: “Of course, a lot has changed in the country and the world in relation to diversity and inclusion since the conference, and not, by and large, for the better. However, the importance of this work to our national competitiveness and to human flourishing has not diminished; if anything, the need is more compelling and urgent than ever.”