OUR EXPERTISE
Burnside Development was founded by John Fraser in 1990. After serving in leadership roles in technology transfer offices, startup companies, and professional organizations involved in all aspects of technology commercialization, John understands the many complex, and daunting challenges of moving research discoveries from the idea stage to successful products in the market.
John has held leadership roles in technology commercialization offices at four different universities in two countries most recently as Assistant Vice President at Florida State University. He has provided consulting services to numerous entities around the world including the Government of Serbia Innovation Foundation, WIPO, Pontifical University of Chile, and the United Arab Emirates. He has also keynoted conferences and conducted training workshops on all aspects of technology commercialization.
Because of John’s reputation, he was elected by his peers to serve as President of AUTM, the international association of technology transfer professionals. During his two-term tenure on the AUTM Board, John interacted with technology transfer professionals around the globe helping them address the unique challenges of their country and their culture. He created Burnside Development to utilize his experiences to help others achieve optimal impact from their innovation potential.
John has a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry with a minor in Biology from Carleton University, a Masters in Biochemistry from University of California Berkley, Certified Licensing Professional™ certification, and is a Registered Technology Transfer Professional. In addition, John is a Member of the RTTP Review/Selection Panel.

John Fraser
OUR ASSOCIATES

Richard served as Director of the Cornell University Technology Transfer Office and President of the Cornell Research Foundation. He is currently President of BioProperty Strategy Group, Inc., an international IP management and technology commercialization consulting firm.
Richard was Founder and Board Member of the Business Innovation Center in Ithaca, New York helping to launch 30+ companies based on Cornell IP. He helped start Cornell Ventures and served on numerous company Boards including Transonic, Inc., BioWorks, Inc., Greensprings, Inc., Yellow Barn, Inc.
Richard has worked with numerous government organizations around the world including USAID, International Intellectual Property Institute, USIMP (Turkey), World Bank, and others. Services provided included training on all facets of the innovation lifecycle, conducting technology transfer capacity building projects, serving as expert witness in patent infringement litigations and senior advisor on technology commercialization activities.
Richard has an MS in Bioprocess Analysis from Montana State and a PhD in Natural Resources from Cornell University.


Ashley led Boston University’s Office of Technology Transfer and lectured in the School of Business for fifteen years after starting his career with P&G and co-founding several biotech startups. He is currently President of The Focus IP Group where he provides a variety of consulting services in intellectual property matters, including serving as an Expert Witness in intellectual property disputes, technology scouting, and teaching the commercialization of early-stage technologies.
Dr. Stevens has taught internationally and is currently a Guest Professor at Osaka University, Japan and at the National University of Singapore (Suzhou) Research Institute where he teaches an intensive summer course on technology commercialization. He frequently publishes and lectures on many aspects of technology transfer.
Dr. Stevens was President of AUTM in 2010 / 11 and was the recipient of the 2007 AUTM Bayh-Dole Award. He is also active in the Licensing Executives Society.
Dr. Stevens holds a Bachelor of Arts in Natural Sciences, a Master of Arts and a Doctor of Philosophy in Physical Chemistry from Oxford University. He is a Certified Licensing Professional and a Registered Technology Transfer Professional.