Translation:

University Licensing Income & Options

Key message

Oregon universities have had increasing success in generating income from the licensing of new technologies to businesses. Continued focus on this measure will increase linkages between higher education and private businesses that will help commercialize new technologies.

Why is it significant?

University licensing income—the amount firms pay universities to use their technology—and options—the agreement firms make with universities to use their technology—are indications of the commercial viability of university inventions. The number of licenses and options executed in a given year tells how many university inventions appear to have commercial potential. The amount of income universities receive is an indication of the value companies assign to the intellectual property developed at research institutions.

How does Oregon perform?

Oregon ranked 16th in the nation in the number of licensing options executed, and 24th in the nation in licensing income in 2007. University licensing income has quadrupled since 2001. This increase indicates that Oregon research universities are able to generate more income from private sector use of their intellectual property. The number of licenses and options executed at Oregon universities more than doubled since 2001. This indicates that companies are increasingly integrating university research into their products and services. See Figure 10.