Tech Transfer

Rochester Ranks 9th in Tech Revenue Income

Companies around the world paid more than $30.5 million for commercial rights to Rochester research during the year ending June 30, 2005, according to the latest revenue report published by the Association for University Technology Managers.

That figure puts the University as the ninth highest revenue recipient of all higher education institutions in the nation.

“It’s very helpful to be able to benchmark our licensing success against our peers and be ranked again among the top research universities in the nation,” says Gail Norris, director of the College Office of Technology Transfer for the University. “Once a university has achieved this level of revenue, companies and venture capitalists begin to recognize that the University is generating cutting-edge research that has commercial application.”

Technology revenue has increased steadily since the University began actively promoting technology transfer more than a decade ago. In 1999, the University earned slightly more than $3 million in revenue but since 2001 has consistently been in the top 10 in university patent licensing revenue.

The most lucrative Rochester patents include the human papillomavirus virus vaccine, the first commercial anticancer vaccine that was approved by the FDA in 2006; the Hib vaccine, used to prevent meningitis in children around the world; and Prevnar, which prevents several pneumococcal diseases in children.

Other top licensed technologies include “Blue Noise Mask,” which improves the speed and appearance of digital images, and an adaptive optics system for the eye. The patented technique for diagnosing aberrations in the eye is widely used in laser refractive eye surgery.

In total, the academic institutions brought in more than $1 billion in patent revenue for the year, according to the survey, which tallied responses from more than 200 colleges and universities.