U. Utah research earns national rankings
BYLINE: By Paige Fieldsted, Daily Utah Chronicle
DATELINE: SALT LAKE CITY
The University of Utah has always been known as a research university, but a recent survey shows that the U's research is proving to be more valuable than ever.
"It is not enough to create research innovation without the infrastructure and support to translate these new inventions into commercial opportunities," said Brian Cummings, director of U Technology Venture Development.
A recent survey released by the Association of University Technology Managers showed that the U is among the best in the nation for generating companies and revenue based on research.
In the survey, the U was ranked among the top 25 schools in the nation in three different categories: the number of companies generated, dollars generated per dollars received and commercialization revenue.
"This means that (the U is) very good at turning the research done by faculty and students into technologies that are valuable because they improve the daily lives of every citizen," said Jack Brittain, vice president of U Technology Venture Development.
The U's ranking in commercialization revenue places it above research powerhouses like Johns Hopkins University and the California Institute of Technology, despite a relatively low ranking in research dollars received.
Generating research companies can also provide job opportunities for U graduates, boost the economy and bring in funding for further research.
"The funding that comes back to the U is used to support further research, help fund graduate student research and to support programs like the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program," Brittain said.
Companies generated by U research do more than provide jobs for engineers and scientists, he said.
"As the companies develop, they need to hire public relations specialists, human resource managers, financial analysts, accountants and all the other types of expertise that an education at the U provides," Brittain said.
Cummings said he agrees and believes the U will go even further.
"The U now stands as one of the premier research universities in the country, and we have the metrics to prove we can take this research and succeed at creating successful new businesses and jobs for the state," he said.