The ChemQuest Group has expanded its offerings to include Intellectual Property services, led by industry veteran Sapna Blackburn, Ph.D. Blackburn has more than 20 years’ worth of R&D and subject matter expertise in materials development and intellectual property (IP) generation and protection. Her experience spans a wide range of industries, including optical, automotive, aerospace and transportation, consumer electronics and telecommunications, and safety.

Blackburn launched IMATZ Consulting LLC in April 2020 to provide IP and materials guidance to specialty chemicals and plastics manufacturers, as well as R&D organizations. She earned both her Master of Science degree in polymer science and Ph.D. in materials science and engineering from Penn State University. In 2003, she completed her GE Black Belt-DFSS in Six Sigma Certification.

“I am excited to bring my experience to CQTI to assist clients with leveraging intellectual assets to gain or maintain competitive advantage in the marketplace,” said Blackburn. “I look forward to overseeing the expansion of ChemQuest’s practice to ensure clients’ investments in innovation are managed effectively with a clearly defined business and IP strategy that generates maximum value, removing obstacles to market penetration and profitability.”

“We warmly welcome Dr. Sapna Blackburn to our practice,” said Dan Murad, president and CEO of ChemQuest. “A complete understanding of a company’s intellectual property―regardless of its size and position within the specialty chemicals value chain―must include portfolio monitoring of its chief competitors’ IP arsenal. Whether it is to ensure exclusivity in the marketplace, or guarantee control when monetizing the distribution of valuable intellectual assets to third parties, optimizing returns on a client’s portfolio through inorganic and organic IP growth is a key differentiator. I look forward to tapping Dr. Blackburn’s scientific background and business acumen to build value for CQTI clients through a seamless IP strategy.”

For more information, visit www.chemquest.com.