UConn is gradually ramping up its research spending, issuing more patent applications, and earning more money from its licensed technology, new statistics show, a positive sign as the state’s flagship university tries to bolster its reputation as a major research institution.
In fiscal 2012, the school spent $183.9 million on research activities, up 13 percent from a year earlier, according to a recent report from the Association of University Technology Managers, which tracks economic development and commercialization efforts by higher education institutions.
That research spending led to 81 new invention disclosures and 36 new U.S. patents, up from 67 inventions and 18 patents a year earlier. The school’s researchers also raked in $965,252 in license income, up 27 percent from fiscal 2011, AUTM data shows.
The improved results mirrored a nationwide trend: Across the U.S., universities and colleges boosted research spending 4.1 percent in fiscal 2012 to $63.7 billion. Schools also licensed more of their technology, landed more patents, and birthed more startup companies, AUTM data shows.
The numbers are significant as universities face increasing pressure to become economic development engines that not only train the future workforce, but also generate new ideas and technology that can be commercialized into practical uses and businesses.
In recent years, that’s been an increasing focus in Connecticut, particularly at UConn, which is receiving hundreds of millions of state taxpayer dollars to boost its science, technology, math and engineering capabilities.
In Farmington, for example, $864 million is being poured into the Bioscience Connecticut initiative, which will add new lab space and research facilities at the UConn Health Center campus. In Storrs, UConn will be building a new technology park, and last year state lawmakers approved a $1.5 billion investment to expand STEM programs and graduates at the school.
The end goal is to propel UConn among the ranks of top research universities, but that won’t happen overnight.
Major research institutions like Michigan or the University of Illinois spend close to, or more than, $1 billion annually on research and rake in millions of dollars from license income.
— Greg Bordonaro
