How does technology transfer work between universities and companies?

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Beyond the Patent · Accepted Answer

Through technology transfer offices (TTOs) that patent university inventions and license them to companies. The scale: in a single year, US institutions reported $104 billion in research expenditures, 25,000+ invention disclosures, roughly 3,000 patent licenses, $3.6 billion in license income, and 714 new commercial products.

The pipeline: a researcher discloses an invention to the TTO, the office decides whether to patent it, then markets the IP to companies or spins out startups — taking equity or royalties back to the institution. Standard deal templates exist, which makes universities among the most predictable licensing counterparties anywhere.

For private owners, the system matters two ways: universities are prolific sellers and licensors (a source of complementary IP and partnership), and their practices — milestone-heavy deals, diligence clauses, equity participation — set the template sophisticated companies will expect from you. Fluent in that template? You'll negotiate like an institution. It's a language we speak daily.

How does technology transfer work between universities and companies?

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