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The University licensed 13 new business startups in Fiscal Year 2008, tying a record set four years ago.
Several of the fledgling companies offer novel treatments and diagnostics for diseases ranging from end-stage kidney disease to sepsis, hearing loss, cancer, diabetic ulcers and autoimmune diseases.
Others provide new tools for the production of next-generation vehicle batteries, semiconductor chips and wafer-scale packaging of MEMS devices.
Over the last five years, the University has helped launch 49 startups. More than 70 percent of them are located in Michigan, mainly in the greater Ann Arbor area.
“Given the economic challenges of our region, these results are encouraging,” says Ken Nisbet, executive director of Tech Transfer.
“They demonstrate that the people and resources of the University of Michigan are playing a significant role in providing opportunity and contributing to the transformation of our state’s economy,” Nisbet says.
In FY 2008, U-M researchers disclosed 306 new inventions, and the University negotiated 91 technology agreements. Eighty-seven U.S. patents were issued, and 144 patent applications were filed.
Revenue at the Office of Technology Transfer rose to an all-time high of $25 million during the last fiscal year, surpassing the previous record of $20.4 million set in FY 2004. The income — about half came from royalties — will fuel ongoing reinvestments in research, technology transfer and industry-outreach activities.
“We are committed to leveraging the research and educational capabilities of the University of Michigan to benefit our region and our state,” says Vice President for Research Stephen Forrest.
