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Keith A. Blakely, CEO of The InVentures Group, has focused on commercializing advanced materials, particularly diamond-like nanocomposites developed in the early 1990s. His approach involves technology push, where material properties are aligned with specific market challenges, such as defense applications funded by the U.S.

Small Business Innovation Research program. Conversely, market pull is illustrated through collaboration with an automaker that required lighter engine materials. Blakely stresses the need to define problems rather than focus solely on material properties. He notes that scaling production poses significant challenges, and highlights the potential of AI to enhance materials discovery by connecting different engineering domains while acknowledging that successful commercialization still requires human judgment.