“From smartphones to new medical treatments to better-tasting apples, many of the technologies and inventions we enjoy today were developed at research universities, then scaled and commercialized for the public by the private sector through a process called technology transfer,” says an op-ed in the Star Tribune co-authored by UMN Interim VP for Research Michael Oakes that underscores the economic importance of research universities.
The piece cites a Heartland Forward report that recently identified the University of Minnesota as the top university for tech transfer in the heartland and a great example for other institutions looking to improve their tech transfer enterprise. The report highlights UMN’s experienced Tech Comm team, seed capital programs, and thriving startup incubator, which has launched 200 startups since 2006, the majority of which are based in Minnesota.