New University Tech Transfer Numbers

The Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM) has recently released its latest numbers on university technology transfer and commercialization.

The data (from Fiscal Year 2005) show that the process of moving research into the marketplace seems to be getting smoother. In FY 2005, 527 new products were made available to the public and both invention disclosures and patent applications increased. Total spending (based on reports from 228 institutions) reached $1.1 billion.

Washington is still the primary investor as federal funds accounted for 67% of this research support. Private sector funds accounted for only 7% of the total.

AUTM has also begun tracking how university spin-off companies obtain their start-up financing. Friends and family continue to be the primary source of such investments, but this year’s survey also shows an increase in funding from angel investors, institutional support and from the federal Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer Program (STTR). Venture capital firms provide support for less than 20% of these start-up firms.

View the Association of University Technology Managers study, AUTM U.S. Licensing Survey FY 2005 http://www.autm.net/pdfs/AUTM_LS_05_US.pdf . Data for Canada are also available http://www.autm.net/pdfs/05_CanadaFINAL.pdf .

(Many thanks to the The National Dialogue on Entrepreneurship for passing this along. Russ)