Universities report tech-transfer gains
Summary:
Tech-transfer efforts at Arizona State University and the University of Arizona made significant gains during fiscal year 2003, according to a report presented to the Board of Regents at its January meeting last week.
Full Story:
Tech-transfer efforts at Arizona State University and the University of Arizona made significant gains during fiscal year 2003, according to a report presented to the Board of Regents at its January meeting last week.
UA licensing revenues reached $1.08 million—its highest ever and an increase of more than 50 percent over the previous year. ASU earned $1.09 million, with cancer therapies accounting for a sizeable portion of that amount. The university has earned more than $1 million a year since 1999.
Both universities rebuilt their tech-transfer operations during fiscal 2003. ASU launched a subsidiary, Arizona Technology Enterprises, with Peter Slate as CEO. UA hired Patrick Jones to head its Office of Technology Transfer and introduced a new firm to handle a batch of donated medical-technology patents from Procter & Gamble.
The report stated that reorganization and new leadership of tech-transfer programs "provide a solid foundation for dramatic achievement in the transfer of technology in the coming years."
"All of our indicators are up over last year, which shows that our efforts at expanding and improving our technology transfer are beginning to pay dividends," Richard Powell, UA's vice president for research, told the Arizona Daily Star.
Slate told the Star that activity has continued to increase since the end of fiscal 2003 (June 30), and should show "significant improvement" in 2004.
Among the notable findings reported in the Star:
- ASU ranked in the top 10 nationally in the number of inventions disclosed per $1 million spending on research, and in the number of U.S. patent applications filed per $1 million spending on research.
- ASU researchers disclosed fewer inventions in 2003—86 vs. 97 in 2002—but applied for more patents—132 vs. 108. UA applied for 74 patents last year, up from 56 in 2002.
- The UA ranks 22nd in total research spending among U.S. universities with $370 million in 2001. ASU ranked 89th with $119 million in spending that year.
- In 2003, UA signed 27 licenses and options with companies, while ASU signed nine.
For more information:
"UA, ASU making gains in marketing of new technology," Arizona Daily Star, 01/22/2004
Arizona Technology Enterprises