Technology Commercialization Statistics

As a leading American research university, the University of Minnesota advances knowledge across a wide range of fields, yielding new solutions and technologies that can then be commercialized to benefit the public, foster economic growth, and generate revenue to further support the University’s mission. Technology transfer measures are part of the goals of MPact 2025, the University’s systemwide strategic plan.

The University of Minnesota launched a record-breaking 23 startups in fiscal year (FY) 2023. UMN also received 360 new invention disclosures, executed 231 licensing deals, submitted 146 first patent filings, and earned licensing revenue of over $16 million, much of which is or will be reinvested in research and innovation at the U.

Technology commercialization statistics (below) reflect deal flow from year to year and are subject to significant volatility. Typically, the University of Minnesota is ranked among the top 10-20 US public universities for key technology transfer metrics. 

Technology Commercialization Statistics, FY19-FY23

Graph depicting a five year trend of growth in license and revenue, startups, invention disclosures, and new/issued patents. Alternative formats of this information is available by contacting riocomm@umn.edu.
Dollar amounts in millionsTechnology Commercialization, Wellspring Sophia; UMN Enterprise Financial System

Startup Companies

Graph depicting a five year trend of growth in license and revenue, startups, invention disclosures, and new/issued patents. Alternative formats of this information is available by contacting riocomm@umn.edu.

Since the formation of Technology Commercialization’s Venture Center in 2006, the University has spun out more than 230 startup companies based on inventions from University faculty and staff. These companies have had a survival rate of over 75 percent and have located in Minnesota more than 70 percent of the time. Ten UMN startups have been acquired or gone public in the past five years, and overall UMN startups have attracted more than $1.8 billion in investment capital, IPOs, and acquisitions. See a video about the University’s 200th startup milestone.

The University is: 

Record Level of Patents

The University was awarded a record level of patents issued in FY 2022 and its second highest level in FY 2023. This success  is a result of quality patent applications from University inventors as well as patent offices worldwide catching up from a backlog created by the pandemic. The University has been strategically including more foreign filings in its patent portfolios in order to tap into markets beyond the United States.

Rankings

The University’s technology transfer work has been recognized for its excellence in national and global rankings:

  • UMN is in the top 20 public universities for five  key tech transfer metrics:  startups (3rd), deals (7th), disclosures (11th), New Patent Applications (16th), and License Income (17th); AUTM 2022 Survey
  • 18th globally for universities granted US Utility Patents and 4th among Big Ten public institutions; National Academy of Inventors Top 100, 2022
  • First for technology transfer within the 20-state heartland region, and fifth among all US public universities; Heartland Forward 2022

Annual Research Reports

See our 2023 Annual Report on Technology Commercialization.

Learn more about the University's research enterprise.