The University of Georgia once again ranks No. 1 among U.S. universities for the number of commercial products to market based on its research, according to an annual survey conducted by AUTM. For nine straight years, UGA has placed in the top two and has never appeared out of the Top 5 in the 11 years the survey has been reported by AUTM.
UGA industry partners and startups released a record 66 new products developed from the university’s research in fiscal year 2023, on which the AUTM report is based. These products include new drug development technology, research tools, sustainable fabric dyeing technology, a 3D scaffolding technology for cell manufacturing, software, and several new crop varieties such as peanut, blueberries and turfgrass, all showcasing the breadth of research at UGA.
“The innovative research conducted by our faculty, staff, and students leads to significant impacts across multiple industry sectors,” said Derek Eberhart, associate vice president for research and executive director of Innovation Gateway, UGA’s research commercialization program. “The No. 1 ranking is a testament to UGA’s commitment to industry collaboration and to applying research to find solutions to real-world challenges.”
AUTM (formerly the Association of University Technology Managers) supports the commercialization of research at universities and other institutions. The organization conducts an annual survey of intellectual property licensing and startup activities, then turns the survey data into a report that ranks those institutions along several tech-transfer categories.
“One of the core tenets of UGA’s mission as a land- and sea-grant university is to conduct impactful research and translate it to products that improve the quality of life around our state and beyond,” said Chris King, interim vice president for research. “We continue to be proud of the work our faculty, staff and students do to achieve success, and of our team in Innovation Gateway to help maximize the impact of their work.”
Since UGA began tracking in the 1970s, industry partners have brought more than 1,200 products to market based on university research. Among the new products in this year’s ranking are plant varieties and turfgrass cultivars, like Tif3D bermudagrass and SeaBreeze seashore paspalum. The Pink Cosmo Blueberry, a new cultivar developed by College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Professor Emeritus Scott NeSmith featuring a unique pink fruit color and sweet flavor, has garnered significant domestic and international interest. NeSmith has released more than 40 new blueberry varieties during his career at UGA.
Another product comes from UGA Startup company, CytoNest, Inc., which recently brought to market a 3D fiber scaffolding system called CytoSurge that can be used in cell manufacturing and tissue engineering. Developed from research funded in part by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, the technology could scale to commercial production of cultivated meat and seafood products.
UGA patented technology is also being utilized in AECOM’s DE-FLUORO system. The electrochemical formula behind the system was developed by UGA Inventor of the Year Jack Huang. This technology is the latest step in improving public health by destroying per- and polyfluoralkyl substances (PFAS), also known as “forever chemicals,” that are commonly found in water systems. DE-FLUORO destroys PFAS residue from fabric and carpet coatings, nonstick cookware, electronic devices, firefighting foam and other products.
UGA was also ranked No. 6 among U.S. universities for active licenses with industry, marking the 17th consecutive year it ranked among the top 15. It ranked No. 8 in number of licenses and options executed with industry, also top 15 for the 17th consecutive year, and earned $12 million in licensing revenue for FY23, an increase just shy of $1 million year over year.
“The consistent success of our faculty and researchers in turning ideas into inventions highlights the depth of talent at the UGA,” said S. Jack Hu, the university’s senior vice president for academic affairs and provost. “As an institution, we are committed to research and innovation that makes a positive impact on our state and world.”
