The Numbers Behind Innovation: AUTM 2024 Licensing Activity Survey

 
The AUTM 2024 Licensing Activity Survey provides a compelling look at how tech transfer offices across North America are navigating uncertainty — and finding new paths forward. Despite economic pressures, institutional shifts, and evolving research priorities, both U.S. and Canadian offices showed strong participation in the survey, underscoring a shared commitment to benchmarking, transparency, and collective learning.
 
In the United States, total research expenditures topped $109 billion, a meaningful increase in a volatile landscape. Federal funding rose slightly, but industry-sponsored research dropped by more than 5%. In response, institutions leaned into alternative funding sources, which increased by 10%. These shifts signal a broader transformation in how innovation is being financed.
 
Licensing teams showed signs of strain, with staffing levels dipping more than 4%, and new patent filings and international activity declining. Still, invention disclosures increased — a clear indication that researchers continue to push innovation forward, and that offices may be adopting a more selective, strategic approach to intellectual property protection.
 
Financially, gross licensing income declined by 24%, and running royalties dropped more than 40%. Yet there were bright spots: revenue from equity cash-outs rose 25%, and income from other sources climbed 34%, reflecting an evolving and diversified revenue model. Startups saw a modest 4% increase, and the number of new products reaching the market grew by 8%. Inter-institutional collaborations also expanded, with agreements up 15% and related payments up 37%.
 
In Canada, 31 institutions reported a combined $8 billion (CAD) in research funding — a 5% increase among consistent respondents. Industry-sponsored research rose 15%, signaling deeper private-sector partnerships. Licensing office staffing held steady, and although invention disclosures declined slightly, patent activity revealed strategic prioritization: while provisional and U.S. filings decreased, Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) filings increased by 6%.
 
Canadian licensing income rose 13%, driven by gains in running royalties and income from other sources. However, revenue from equity cash-outs declined more than 45%, again highlighting a shift in income strategies. Startup formation dipped by 14%, but the number of active companies held nearly steady — with 76% still operating in their founding province.
 
Across both countries, the story is one of resilience, reinvention, and resolve. Tech transfer professionals are adjusting to a new reality — one that demands creativity, collaboration, and strategic agility. The innovation pipeline remains strong, and AUTM’s Licensing Survey continues to provide the field with the insights needed to adapt and advance.
 
Explore the full results:
U.S. Licensing Survey | Canadian Licensing Survey