Michigan Examines Tech Transfer Capabilities, Needs

A new report showing that Michigan is performing at the level of the national average in tech transfer recently was released by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and the Presidents Council, State Universities of Michigan.

An Assessment of Technology Transfer at Michigan’s Public Universities holds that Michigan is an improving top-tier commercialization state, using statistics and measurements to create benchmarks in the areas of tech transfer and entrepreneurial activity. The benchmarks are used to compare the performance of Michigan universities with other universities nationwide.

As a state, Michigan fares well in the amount of sponsored research funding, with the University of Michigan ranking fourth nationally, according to the report.

Overall, Michigan universities in 1999 were below average in new start-up companies created from university research, but preliminary data for 2000 shows improvement in the number of start-ups.

In addition to the above findings, the report identifies four areas in university research where improvements could translate into greater economic activity in Michigan:

• Cultivate superior students and faculty. A college graduate migration study recently conducted by MEDC indicates that Michigan does well in retaining 79 percent of high-tech graduates from its universities. MEDC presently is targeting recruitment efforts to attract more high-tech graduate students.
• Increase commercialization activity. MEDC’s Life Science Corridor funds the Michigan Universities Commercialization Initiative and provides assistance to tech transfer professionals to help bring innovative ideas to the marketplace.
• Increase entrepreneurial support. MEDC is actively involved in the Michigan Life Sciences Corridor — Intellectual Property Commercialization Committee, the Michigan Microsystems (MEMS) Consortium, and other partnerships that encourage a high-tech entrepreneurial culture in the state.
• Enhance entrepreneurial infrastructure. Michigan’s SmartZone program helps foster the growth of business incubators. MEDC's SmartZones stimulate the growth of tech-based businesses by encouraging new and emerging businesses to cluster in technology parks and are almost without exception associated with a university partnership. SmartZones are primarily focused on commercializing ideas, patents and other opportunities surrounding university or private research institute research and development efforts.

Through the licensing of innovations by universities, hospitals, research institutes, and patent management firms, tech transfer has helped lead to new businesses, new industries, and new markets and has helped create new products such as cancer treatments and faster modems.

The Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM) estimates more than $40 billion in academic tech transfer in FY 1999 went toward the U.S. economy, supporting 270,000 jobs. Should this trend continue, AUTM suggests the U.S. will see a "maturing portfolio (in 1999) of over 18,000 license agreements" yield hundreds of new product introductions and new companies.

To view An Assessment of Technology Transfer at Michigan’s Public Universities, visit MEDC, enter Business Services and click on MEDC Publications under Features.