New Mexico University’s (NMU) tech transfer programme has brought a significant uptick in commercialisation activity at the institution over the past decade, new figures suggest.
The university has earned $20.14m in royalties and patent income over the period of 2006 to 2015, compared to $2.48m for the decade prior. It also saw 400 licenses compared to 70, 73 spinouts up from 17, 1,144 invention disclosures up from 503, and 897 patents filed up from 314.
In the past academic year alone, the university raised $2.19m from licensing, up from $1.72m from the year before, founded nine spinouts, and received 46 new patents.
Joe Cecchi, dean of the NMU engineering school, said: “Faculty and staff at all levels are now actively participating in university efforts to take new inventions from lab to market. It’s a complete cultural transformation and it reflects a new, emerging ecosystem. A lot of pieces have come together to reinforce the whole commercialisation program.”
