Fiscal year 2026 was another landmark year for the University of Minnesota’s Technology Commercialization office. Defined by historic milestones and new programs designed to fast-track University of Minnesota research into the marketplace, the newly released 2026 technology commercialization statistics and Annual Report detail how University of Minnesota innovations are maximizing impact by saving lives, protecting the environment, and boosting the economy.
“Together, we will continue pushing the boundaries of discovery—transforming bold ideas into real-world solutions that shape a brighter future for Minnesota and beyond,” said Rick Huebsch, Associate Vice President for Research and Innovation for Technology Commercialization.
Milestone Venture Creation
A central achievement of FY26 was officially surpassing 300 total startups launched since 2006. Driven by a surge of more than 150 spin-offs created since 2020 alone, the University spun out a record-breaking 27 new companies in FY26. This performance solidifies the University of Minnesota’s position as one of only four institutions nationwide—public or private—to launch 20 or more startups every year for the past five years.
The economic impact of these companies remains significant. Startups launched since 2006 have attracted over $3.7 billion in investment capital, IPOs, and acquisitions, while creating 2,004 jobs. Three-quarters of University of Minnesota startups choose to stay in Minnesota, directly fueling the local economy and creating high-tech jobs across the state. The University of Minnesota ranks #2 in startup creation, #5 in new license deals, and #6 in inventions disclosed among U.S. public universities (AUTM 2025).
A Robust Innovation Engine
During FY26, the University’s core innovation pipeline yielded 437 invention disclosures, 259 licensing deals, and 167 issued patents. Of the 27 startups launched in FY26, 10 were in bio/pharma, 7 in medical devices, 5 in software and IT, 4 in engineering and physical sciences, and 1 in food and agriculture. Historical totals from FY06–FY26 reflect a balanced portfolio led by bio/pharma (29%), medical devices (26.2%), software/IT (19.8%), energy and environment (10.2%), engineering and physical sciences (9.6%), and food/ag (5.1%).
Tech Comm introduced two strategic commercialization initiatives in FY26:
- Superior Fruit Innovations (SFI): A grower-focused platform managing and licensing the University’s cold-hardy fruit portfolio directly to commercial farms.
- Software Startup Development (SSD) Program: Launched in early 2025 to guide software innovations from concept to launch, having already delivered $110,000 across 11 projects.
To tackle early-stage challenges for startups, Tech Comm continues to support inventors through the Early Innovation Fund—which has provided more than $600,000 in micro-grants to 63 invention disclosures since 2022—and the Discovery Capital Investment Program, which has invested $13.7 million across 28 venture-ready spin-offs since 2015. Additional engagement efforts include the inaugural cohort of the Tech Comm Ambassadors Program, the Corporate Engagement Center’s new MN-RISE program, and the Business Advisory Group network of over 500 industry experts.
Translating Discovery into Global Solutions
The report highlights several University of Minnesota spin-offs driving purpose-led progress.
- Niron Magnetics is scaling production of its rare-earth-free "Clean Earth Magnet®" at a 190,000-square-foot facility in Sartell, MN, backed by over $100 million in commercial investments.
- Claros Technologies is commercializing a proprietary treatment system that achieves a 99.99% destruction rate for PFAS "forever chemicals".
- Jord BioScience is leveraging cooperative microbial communities to enhance crop yields and soil health naturally.
See more technology commercialization statistics and read the full 2026 Technology Commercialization Annual Report to explore more metrics, news features, and startup success stories.