UMass maintains position as national licensing leader

UMMS research generated 90 percent of total income

Aug. 30, 2012

The University of Massachusetts has placed in the top 15 nationally for the third year in a row in generating income from the commercialization of its academic research, announced UMass President Robert L. Caret. Approximately 90 percent of the income derived from research innovations was generated by the Worcester campus.

A new report from the Association of University Technology Managers found that UMass generated $35 million in income from faculty-derived discoveries and products during fiscal year 2011. It also signed 25 licenses, created one startup company, and filed 50 patent applications. The University of Massachusetts first cracked the top 15 list in fiscal year 2008.

"We are pleased to continue our streak of being in the top tier of institutions nationally in generating intellectual property income,'' President Caret said. "It is a direct result of the outstanding researchers on all five of our campuses whose inventions are helping to fuel the innovation economy in Massachusetts and whose presence in the classrooms and laboratories redound to the benefit of our students. They are also improving the quality of life in the state and around the world. We are grateful for their accomplishments.''

With its $35 million in commercialization income, UMass ranked 14th on the list. It was sixth among all U.S. public universities and second among publics and privates in Massachusetts in generating licensing income.

Of the institutions that elected to participate in the survey, two other Massachusetts universities ranked in the top 30: the Massachusetts Institute of Technology ranked sixth with $76.1 million in licensing income, while Harvard University ranked 25th with $13.8 million in licensing revenue.