ATR Launch Program - Lunch & Learn 2025
December 3, 2025, 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
Evidence Over Intuition: Understanding The Technical Pathway to Commercialization
Location: CHBE #202, 2360 East Mall Vancouver BC V6T 1Z4
Join us to learn more about the development pathway towards commercialization from a technical point of view. The ATR Launch program has been created to address the often overlooked and critical technical aspects in the development of low TRL technologies and processes. Moving from the lab to commercialization requires more than promising research data and intuition. This session offers a technical viewpoint on how technologies and processes are developed. Sergio Berretta brings over 25 years of industrial experience in scale-up, de-risking, and engineering design and will share practical and invaluable insights. Mohammad Kamali and Branden Deiss will share a detailed look at the components of a pre-feasibility study and how you get your technology ready for one.
Specifically for BPI researchers, especially PIs and grad students, this is an opportunity to understand the technical considerations behind technology development towards commercialization, from de-risking technologies to aligning research with industry requirements. Learn how ATR Launch can accelerate your technology towards commercialization.
Agenda
- 12:00 PM Introduction to ATR Launch program and development pathway - Sergio Berretta
- 12:30 PM Preparing for a pre-feasibility study and what it entails - Mohammad Kamali & Branden Deiss
- 12:50 PM Closing and Q&A - Sergio Berretta
*Subway sandwiches and coffee will be available from 11:45 AM.
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About the Speakers
Sergio Berretta
Sergio is a leading expert in process design and development with over 28 years of experience in scaling up, de-risking, and executing detailed engineering for novel process technologies. His career includes leadership roles in the design and commissioning of major chemical plants worldwide and has served as Vice President and COO of BC Research, managed R&D at NORAM Engineering, and co-founded Canada’s Carbon Capture and Conversion Institute. A recognized authority in Carbon Capture, Conversion, and Storage (CCCS), he contributed to the detailed design of Carbon Engineering’s Direct Air Capture facility in Squamish, BC. Currently, Sergio is a Professor of Practice in Chemical and Biological Engineering at UBC and advises companies in North America and Europe on carbon capture, process scale-up, and control systems.
Mohammad Kamali
Mohammad is a process engineer with over 10 years of experience in process simulation, optimization, and techno-economic analysis across the oil, gas, chemical, and biorefinery sectors. He has extensive expertise in the design, optimization, and troubleshooting of complex processes, including ethane cracking, acid gas removal, and biomass gasification, and has contributed to the development and commissioning of industrial-scale facilities. He is currently pursuing a PhD in Forestry at the University of British Columbia, focusing on sustainable bio-based processes. His research integrates machine learning, life cycle assessment (LCA), and techno-economic analysis (TEA) to support the development of scalable, bio-based industrial technologies.
Branden Deiss
Branden Deiss is an ATR Technical Analyst at BPI, where he applies his strong technical background to drive innovation and process improvement. He holds both a B.S. and M.S. in Chemical Engineering from Manhattan University and is passionate about leveraging analytical and problem-solving skills to create meaningful change. Branden enjoys collaborating across teams to deliver solutions that enhance efficiency and performance. He looks forward to continuing his growth and learning within the BPI team.