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BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION, Texas — The Texas A&M University System announced today that Dr. Samuel Kim has been named Chief Innovation Officer and Associate Vice Chancellor, removing the interim title he has held since October 2025.

Kim will continue leading Texas A&M Innovation, the System-level office charged with supporting inventors, commercializing discoveries, building industry partnerships and strengthening the path from research to real-world impact.

Since being named interim chief innovation officer, Kim has led the development of a long-range strategic plan for research commercialization and impact. The plan positions the A&M System to become a national leader in translating discoveries into products, services, ventures and partnerships that drive economic growth and improve lives.

“Sam Kim has earned the confidence of the Chancellor, the Board of Regents and the researchers and partners working to turn Texas A&M discoveries into solutions,” said Chancellor Glenn Hegar. “He has brought focus, discipline and vision to an area that is essential to the future of the A&M System. We have extraordinary research talent across our universities and agencies, and Sam understands how to connect that talent with industry, investors and public-sector partners so our work produces greater impact for Texas and beyond.”

The Texas A&M Innovation strategic plan is built around four pillars: Commercialization Excellence, Innovation Culture, Innovation Infrastructure and Innovation Impact. Together, they are designed to create clearer pathways for inventors, strengthen the culture of entrepreneurship, expand venture and translational support, and measure success by real-world outcomes.

“Research commercialization is a major priority for the Board of Regents,” said Robert L. Albritton, Chairman of the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents. “The A&M System has the scale, talent and statewide reach to be a national leader in innovation. Dr. Kim has helped define a practical strategy for turning more of our research into companies, products, partnerships and solutions that strengthen the Texas economy and serve the people of this state.”

The plan emphasizes “impact over revenue,” making economic and societal outcomes the primary measure of success. Financial returns will be tracked, but the strategy focuses first on strengthening the innovator experience, building viable companies, deepening industry and community engagement, attracting external investment and collaborations, and generating measurable public benefit.

Regent John Bellinger, chairman of the Board’s Research Committee, said Kim’s leadership comes at an important moment for the System’s research enterprise.

“The A&M System conducts research at a scale few institutions can match,” Bellinger said. “The opportunity now is to organize that strength into a more coordinated, more visible and more effective innovation enterprise. Sam’s strategic plan gives us a clear framework, measurable goals and an accountability structure for moving discoveries into use — through startups, licensing, industry partnerships and other pathways to impact.”

Kim brings more than two decades of experience in deep-technology commercialization, venture capital, startup formation, advanced materials, semiconductors, photonics and nanotechnology. He has worked as a researcher, inventor, entrepreneur, startup operator and venture fund manager, with experience helping early-stage technologies move from laboratory proof-of-concept to market adoption.

“The Texas A&M University System has an exceptional base of research, technical talent and service-minded problem solvers,” Kim said. “Our goal is to make it easier for faculty, students, founders, companies and investors to work together to move promising ideas into the world. I’m grateful for the confidence of Chancellor Hegar and the Board of Regents, and I’m excited to keep building an innovation ecosystem that delivers meaningful impact for Texas and beyond.”

Texas A&M Innovation supports inventors and commercializes innovations across the A&M System by helping protect intellectual property, connect researchers with industry and venture partners, support startup creation and move technologies from discovery toward market-ready products and services

For more information about Texas A&M Innovation, visit innovation.tamus.edu.

To learn more about Dr. Samuel Kim, visit his profile page at innovation.tamus.edu.