Newswise — In fiscal year 2009, 596 new companies were formed as a result of university research, one more than the 595 formed in 2008 and 41 more than the 555 formed in 2007 before the economic downturn began, according to a survey report published Dec. 17 by the Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM), a nonprofit association of academic technology transfer professionals.

AUTM announces the release of the AUTM U.S. Licensing Activity Survey: FY2009. The survey shares quantitative information about licensing activities at U.S. universities, hospitals and research institutions.

“The data reported by universities reveal that academic technology commercialization continued to thrive even in the midst of the global financial crisis, providing a steady stimulus to the economy” says Ashley J. Stevens, DPhil. (Oxon), CLP, AUTM president. “The majority of the startups formed are located in the licensing institution’s home state, which demonstrates that the Bayh-Dole Act continues to have a major impact on local economies across the nation,” adds Stevens.

Enacted on December 12, 1980, the Bayh-Dole Act enabled academic institutions and businesses to retain title to inventions made under federally funded research programs and created a uniform intellectual property management policy for the federal agencies that fund research. This year marks the Act’s 30th anniversary.

“The data offer a glimpse into the state of academic technology transfer,” says Shawn Hawkins, AUTM vice president for metrics & surveys. She adds, “The number of licenses executed in 2009 increased slightly over the number reported in 2008 while total license income declined 32.5 percent from what had been reported in fiscal year 2008. However, as discussed in the survey report, the 2008 income figures included two large, one time royalty stream monetization payments and two large, one time litigation settlements totaling over $1 billion. The 2009 figure is slightly higher than license income reported in 2008 when these one-time payments are excluded."

Highlights of the AUTM U.S. Licensing Activity Survey: FY2009 include:
•658 new commercial products introduced
•5,328 total license and options executed, 4,374 of which were licenses
•596 new companies formed
•3,423 startup companies still operating as of the end of FY2009
•$53.9 billion total sponsored research expenditures
•20,309 disclosures
•$2.3 billion total licensing income

Patents filed
•18,214 total U.S. patent applications
•12,109 new patent applications filed
•1,322 non-U.S. patent applications

Patents issued
•3,417 issued U.S. patents

Members of the press may contact Jodi Talley at +1-847-559-0846 or jtalley@autm.net at AUTM headquarters to set up an interview and to request a complimentary copy of the survey summary.

About AUTM
The Association of University Technology Managers is a nonprofit organization with an international membership of more than 3,000 technology managers and business executives. AUTM members — managers of intellectual property, one of the most active growth sectors of the global economy —come from more than 300 universities, research institutions and teaching hospitals as well as numerous businesses and government organizations.