University research powers innovation and economic development. Countries with intensive research and development (R&D) programmes differ in their approach to turning lab studies into commercial enterprises. By Alla Katsnelson, infographic by Mohamed Ashour.
Central cog
University research drives the innovation ecosystem by generating inventions, patents and licensing agreements, and by spurring the creation of spin-off companies. The funding for this research comes from multiple sources. Academic researchers also generate income or contribute to knowledge commercialization through contract and collaborative research with companies, as well as through consulting.
Industry infusion
Some R&D conducted at higher-education institutes is financed by companies, China has the highest proportion of industry-financed R&D. Data are latest available (2012 or 2013)2
R&D powerhouses
US universities have the biggest impact on the development of breakthrough technology3 (measured as publications cited by the most highly cited patents — those in the top 10% of patents cited by other patents).
Licensing trends
Licensing income from public research fluctuated during the 2007–09 recession, but remained generally stable between 2004 and 2011. However, only a handful of universities are responsible for the bulk of licensing in each country2.
Spun off
The total number of start-up companies formed from research institutions, including medical centres, in selected countries with a research-commercialization focus. Data are latest available (2013 or 2014)4.
Patent landscape
In 2014, Israeli public-research institutions filed the highest number of international patent applications, normalized by gross domestic product. How well this metric reflects commercialization, however, varies by country. Inventors may target their patent applications to specific regions and don’t always file an international application2.
Sources: 1. Innovation Policy Platform; 2. Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development; 3. Leiden Univ. Center for Science and Technology Studies; 4. Assoc. Univ. Technology Managers, Australian Department of Industry and Science, UK National Centre for Universities and Businesses, Higher Education Statistics Agency, Israel Central Bureau of Statistics, Japan Univ. Network of Innovation and Tech Transfer; 5. Global Univ. Venturing.
Related links
Related links
Related links in Nature Research
Universities struggle to make patents pay
Innovation: Bridging the market gap
Related external links
OECD Science Technology and Industry Outlook
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Katsnelson, A. Cashing in on science. Nature 533, S6–S7 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/533S6a
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/533S6a