The Texas A&M University System has made Samuel Kim its permanent chief innovation officer and associate vice chancellor, after appointing him on an interim basis in October.
Kim has stepped down as managing director of New Ventures, a role he had held since January 2025 and had continued to fulfil concurrently for the past nine months.
As chief innovation officer, Kim leads Texas A&M Innovation, which oversees commercialisation and industry partnerships across the university system.
As interim, Kim developed a strategic plan for research commercialisation and impact that aims to turn the Texas A&M University System into a national leader in technology transfer.
The plan is built around four core principles: commercialisation excellence, innovation culture, innovation infrastructure, and innovation impact. It prioritises social and economic impact over revenue.
“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.
“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.”
Glenn Hegar, chancellor
Kim has more than two decades of experience working across commercialisation, venture capital, and venture building, having been a researcher, an entrepreneur, a startup operator, and a venture fund manager.
