ALEX HESS is the Business Development Executive responsible for handling the commercialization efforts, management of IP and partnership creation centered around the National Ignition Facility (NIF) technologies including Inertial Fusion Energy (IFE), Advanced Photon Sciences (APS) and more.

Having spent 12 years at the bench as a materials scientist/chemist, an inventor, an early employee at two advanced materials start-ups to working in venture capital, Alex developed a unique perspective and real-life experience of how to take science from a concept to commercial reality. Throughout his career, Alex recognizes the importance of effective communication and enjoys explaining the “what, how and why” for any technology he is working on.

Alex holds a D.Phil./PhD in Chemistry from Oxford University, UK where he was a European Research Council funded research fellow and a Barbinder Watson Scholar. He also holds a BA (Mod.) Hons in Chemistry from Trinity College Dublin, Ireland. He is also listed as an inventor on 11 patents in areas ranging from semiconductor patterning materials, nanotechnology and optical coatings.

When he is not at work, Alex enjoys flamenco guitar playing and performance, art history, road & gravel biking as well as innovation community building.