UM tech transfer office sets record with 444 inventions

10/23/2017

The University of Michigan’s faculty, researchers and startups reported a record 444 inventions this year.

Researchers topped last year’s 428 inventions to continue its streak of five straight years of more than 400 inventions, a UM news release said. The UM Technology Transfer Office tallied 172 U.S. patents this year, up from 135 last year, and signed 173 licensing deals with companies looking to commercialize the research, the release said.

The office transfers inventions developed at the university to the private sector, according to its website. This year’s licensing deals led to $14.6 million in revenues, with a dozen going to new startups, the release said.

Among the honorees at UM Innovation Partnerships’s 17th annual Celebrate Invention reception Wednesday were medical device supplier Brio Device LLC, artificial intelligence software provider Neurable LLC and research management software provider Ripple Science Corp. All three startups were founded in Ann Arbor, and Neurable relocated to Boston in August 2016.

“The continuing success of our faculty and technology transfer reflects the relevance of our research to real-world applications that can benefit the public,” Vice President for Research S. Jack Hu said in a statement. “And the record number of invention disclosures shows increasing participation from faculty across campus.”