Saul Kaplan

Founder and Chief Catalyst of the Business Innovation Factory

Saul Kaplan is the founder and Chief Catalyst of the Business Innovation Factory. He also is the chair of the non-profit’s Board of Directors.

Kaplan started BIF in 2005 with a mission to enable collaborative innovation. The non-profit is creating a real world laboratory for innovators to explore and test new business models and system level solutions in areas of high social importance including health care, education, energy independence, public safety, and quality of life.

Kaplan also is a member of the Board of Directors for Family Services of Rhode Island and The Big Picture Company. Kaplan was appointed to the Rhode Island Science and Technology Advisory Council and is a member of the Board of Overseers for Roger Williams University.

Prior to focusing on business model and system level innovation at the Business Innovation Factory Kaplan served as the Executive Director of the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation and as the Executive Counselor to the Governor on Economic and Community Development. Kaplan created Rhode Island’s unique innovation @ scale economic development strategy aimed at increasing the state’s capacity to grow and support an innovation economy, including an effort to turn the state’s compact geography and close knit public and private sector networks into a competitive advantage.

Kaplan also served as the Chairman for the Board of Directors of the Quonset Development Corporation and the Slater Technology Fund.

Prior to his state leadership role in economic development Kaplan served as a Senior Strategy Partner in Accenture's Health & Life Science practice and worked broadly throughout the pharmaceutical, medical products, and biotechnology industry. His work focused on assisting organizations in the design and implementation of global strategies to bring new products to market faster and increase the profitability of existing products. In addition to his client-focused work, Kaplan held many practice leadership roles within the organization and was instrumental in the formation and rapid growth of Accenture's pharmaceutical and medical products practice.

Earlier in his career, Kaplan spent eight years working for the Pharmaceutical Division of Eli Lilly and Company. As a Marketing Plans Manager, Kaplan assisted in developing the launch strategy and successful introduction of Prozac into the U.S. market.

Kaplan holds an MBA from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute focusing on the strategic management of technology and a BS in Pharmacy from the University of Rhode Island.

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