Athens, Ga. – For the third consecutive year, the University of Georgia technology commercialization program has been ranked among the nation’s best for moving technologies into the marketplace.
The University of Washington and UGA are the only two universities in the country to hold the distinction of ranking first and second respectively for the past three years for the total number of licenses and options executed.
The rankings, published in December by the Association of University Technology Managers, are based on 2009 survey data from 181 U.S. universities, hospitals and research institutions.
The UGA technology commercialization program ranked second among all U.S. universities with 124 licenses and options executed. The University of Washington took first place with a total of 231. Other top ranked universities reported as systems, including the 10-campus University of California System, with a combined total of 237, and the nine-campus University of Texas System, with a combined total of 161.
“What sets us apart is effective teamwork among our office and UGA faculty, students, staff and senior administration, as well as our industry partners,” said Sohail Malik, director of UGA’s technology commercialization office.”We are very proud of our teamwork and are grateful to everyone for their support, which has once again helped us in achieving the highest honors.”
UGA also is in the top ranking for licensing revenues that support the university’s research mission. With $30.5 million in licensing revenues, UGA ranked seventh among public universities and 15th among public and private universities.
“The university’s success in executing licenses and options reflects the quality of UGA research programs, the efficiency of its technology commercialization office and the diversity of the research at UGA,” said David Lee, UGA vice president for research.
“While licensing revenue is an important indicator of success, the number of technologies licensed to industry in Georgia and beyond is more important. These technologies are the impetus for economic development and the creation of new jobs,” said Lee, who also is executive vice president of the UGA Research Foundation, Inc.
“Our nation relies on universities for solutions to many of society’s toughest problems,” said Lee.”Successfully transferring university research to the marketplace makes a difference in people’s lives.”
UGARF performs the technology transfer function for the university through its technology commercialization office. UGARF takes assignment of inventions, obtains patents, and protects other intellectual property rights, and licenses inventions to the private sector in return for royalty income and research funding to further support the research mission of the university.
For more information about the UGA technology and commercialization program, see www.ovpr.uga.edu/tco/.