UW-Madison near the top in patents

In its annual measure of intellectual property activity in higher education, UW–Madison and the not-for-profit WARF were ranked sixth among all U.S. universities by the USPTO in recognition of the number of patents awarded in 2002. The University of California System, which includes all ten UC campuses, topped the list with 431 patents, followed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with 135, the California Institute of Technology with 109, Stanford University with 104 and the University of Texas with 93 patents.

UW–Madison, with 81 patents, was ranked sixth in a tie with Johns Hopkins University. The only other Midwestern university among the top ten was Michigan State, ranking tenth with 39 patents issued in 2002.

In a letter to the UW–Madison Chancellor John D. Wiley, James Rogan, director of the USPTO, commended the university for its “continued commitment and dedication to innovation and creativity.”

Intellectual property – the ideas, methods and technologies developed in university laboratories – has become increasingly important not only in terms of raising university revenue, but also for local and state economic development. Many of Wisconsin’s new technology-based companies are built around technologies developed in the university lab. “Historically, Wisconsin has done a very good job of using intellectual property in the best interest of the state and the university,” says Martin Cadwallader, dean of the UW–Madison Graduate School. “But in today’s fiscal climate, this activity is even more important. Intellectual capital is a foundation of our future economy.”

In Wisconsin, 92 companies based on technologies developed at UW–Madison are currently in operation. Combined, they employ an estimated 1,735 people, according to figures provided by UW–Madison’s University-Industry Relations Program.

As the designated patent-and-licensing agency for UW–Madison, WARF patents inventions developed by university faculty, staff and students, and licenses the intellectual property to industry for commercial development. WARF returns licensing revenues and royalties on product sales to the university to fund research and fellowship programs.

Founded in 1925, the private, not-for-profit institution is the oldest university technology transfer office in the nation.

“UW-Madison has been able to maintain its leadership in technology transfer through WARF and the dedication and creativity of university inventors,” says Wiley. “WARF’s grant support, in turn, provides us with a margin of excellence for research and learning on our campus.”

According to Carl Gulbrandsen, WARF managing director, the success of UW–Madison researchers in obtaining extramural research funding, estimated at more than half a billion dollars for fiscal year 2002, ties in closely with WARF’s ability to obtain patents.

“Our success is made possible by the excellence of the faculty and staff of the university,” Gulbrandsen says. “We’re in an ideal position to leverage new knowledge. We help turn those intellectual assets into products and companies that employ Wisconsin citizens, pay good wages and increase our tax base.”