Commercializing University Innovations: Alternative Approaches

35 Pages Posted: 31 Mar 2007

See all articles by Robert E. Litan

Robert E. Litan

Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) - Council on Foreign Relations- Washington D.C.

Lesa Mitchell

Techstars

E. J. Reedy

University of Chicago - Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship

Date Written: May 16, 2007

Abstract

For much of the past century, universities and university-based researchers have played a critical role in driving technological progress, from the fortification of Vitamin D in the 1920s to the creation of Google in the 1990s. In the process, universities have been a strong catalyst for U.S. economic growth. But a perennial challenge related to university-driven innovation has been ensuring that university structures help - not hinder - innovation and the commercialization of innovations. Multiple pathways for university transfer exist and can be codified to provide broader access to innovation, allow a greater volume of deal flow, support standardization, and decrease the redundancy of innovation and the cycle time for commercialization. The proposed changes focus on creating incentives that will maximize social benefit from the existing investments being made in R&D and commercialization on university campuses.

Keywords: technology transfer, commercialization, Bayh-Dole Act

JEL Classification: O18, M13, 033, 034, 038

Suggested Citation

Litan, Robert E. and Mitchell, Lesa and Reedy, E. J., Commercializing University Innovations: Alternative Approaches (May 16, 2007). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=976005 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.976005

Robert E. Litan

Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) - Council on Foreign Relations- Washington D.C. ( email )

1777 F Street, NW
Washington, DC 20006
United States

Lesa Mitchell

Techstars ( email )

1828 Walnut, 3rd Floor
Kansas City, MO 64108
United States

E. J. Reedy (Contact Author)

University of Chicago - Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship ( email )

5807 S. Woodlawn Ave., Suite 207
Chicago, IL 60637
United States
773-834-0812 (Phone)

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