Mónica Alandete

Mónica has worked across academic, non-profit, and private sectors, holding leadership roles in multinational corporations as well as in startup companies. She has built a strong international network, particularly in Latin America. Mónica holds a Ph.D. in Plant Biotechnology and is a certified Patent Agent.

In her previous role at Climate Corp/Bayer Crop Science, she managed a portfolio of external collaborations to support R&D pipelines, drive business growth, and implement external partnership strategies. Before that, she worked in technology transfer and commercialization at the University of California, where she conducted market research, freedom-to-operate (FTO) analyses, and patent and technology landscape assessments. She developed and executed commercialization and licensing strategies for early-stage AgTech innovations.

Currently, Monica serves as the Chief Business Officer (CBO) at MaxEditas, an AgTech startup with a mission to lead in specialty crop gene editing and address global agricultural challenges through its proprietary CRISPR platform. In this role, she develops and executes the company's business development strategy.

Previously, Monica served as a Partnership Developer at Bayer Crop Science, where she negotiated contracts with research institutions, established companies, and technology providers. She worked cross-functionally to drive a global portfolio of external collaborations. Prior to that, she held the position of Open Innovation Manager, where she led strategic partnership efforts to address business needs and support successful commercialization of R&D pipelines.

Earlier in her career, Monica spent a decade at the University of California as Director of Analysis and Education, where she led global training programs for scientists, intellectual property professionals, and policymakers. She delivered capacity-building initiatives focused on IP management, deal structuring, and technology transfer to drive innovation and economic development. In addition, she led business development and fundraising efforts for global initiatives, securing support from U.S. and international agencies, private foundations, and industry partners.In this role, she also evaluated technology portfolios and conducted in-depth market research, FTOs, and patent landscape analyses to support early-stage AgTech commercialization efforts.

Monica has served as a consultant for international agencies including WIPO, OAS, USPTO, UPOV, EUIPO, and APEC. She is also a seasoned public speaker, having presented at over 60 international events.

She holds a PhD in Molecular Biology, an MSc in Plant Biotechnology, and a BSc in Biochemistry. Monica is also a certified Patent Agent.

Journal Articles, Books and Book Chapters

The development of ecosystems for technology transfer in Mexico: the role of Patenting Centers.
Queen Mary Journal of Intellectual Property · Jan 1, 2018

Intellectual Property in Agricultural Biotechnology: From Patent Thickets to Generics
Intellectual Property Issues in Biotechnology, CABI Press, UK. · Jan 1, 2016

Intellectual property for everyone: an interview with Monica Alandete-Saez. Interview is part of Working Lives: Exploring the wealth of job opportunities available after a life sciences PhD
eLife, Cambridge, UK. · Jan 1, 2016

Technology Transfer in the Americas: Common and Divergent Practices Among Major Research Universities and Public Sector Institutions
Technology Transfer Journal · Jan 1, 2016

Auxin import and auxin local biosynthesis are required for mitotic divisions, cell expansion and cell specification during female gametophyte development in Arabidopsis thaliana
PLOS ONE · Jan 1, 2015

Intellectual property in agricultural biotechnology: Strategies for open access Plant Biotechnology and Genetics: Principles, Techniques and Applications.
Wiley & Sons, New York. · Jan 1, 2015

Intellectual Property in Agriculture
Encyclopedia of Agriculture and Food System. NK Van Alfen (Ed), Elsevier · Jan 1,

An intellectual property sharing initiative in agricultural biotechnology: development of broadly accessible technologies for plant transformation
Plant Biotechnology Journal · Jan 6, 2012

Spectators or Actors? Countries in the Fight against Climate Change in the Media Construction. Global Warming Impacts and Food Security in a Leading Agricultural Producer Country as Argentina
International Conference in Culture, Politics & Climate Change. University of Colorado Boulder · Jan 1, 2012

Dual functions of GEX1: the extracellular domain is required for gametophyte development and the cytoplasmic domain is necessary for dimerization and embryogenesis
Plant Journal · Jan 1, 2011

Mis-regulation of a nat-siRNA pair is essential for double fertilizationMis-regulation of a nat-siRNA pair is essential for double fertilization
Genes & Development · Jan 1, 2010

Pattern Formation in Miniature: The Female Gametophyte of Flowering Plants
Development · Jan 1, 2010

Auxin-Dependent Patterning and Gamete Specification in the Arabidopsis Female GametophyteAuxin-Dependent Patterning and Gamete Specification in the Arabidopsis Female Gametophyte
Science · Jan 1, 2009

GEX3, expressed in the male gametophyte and in the egg cell of Arabidopsis thaliana is essential for micropylar pollen tube guidance and plays a role during early embryogenesis embryogenesis
Molecular Plant · Jan 1, 2008

The role of ARR22 and two-component system during Arabidopsis pod development
Comparative Biochemistry, Molecular and Integrative Physiology · Jan 1

Spatial and temporal expression of the response regulators ARR22 and ARR24 in Arabidopsis thaliana
Journal of Experimental Botany · Jan 1, 2006