2018 Licensing Activity Survey

Patents Hit Record High: 2018 Survey

Canadian Survey — Key Findings

Canadian research institutions posted a record number of patents in 2018 while continuing to pursure more non-traditional sources of funding. Tech transfer institutions formed a record number of start-ups, underscoring the continued focus on local entrepreneurial ecosystems.

  • A record 119 start-ups were formed in 2018, directly impacting local economies, with more than 93% of the new businesses headquartered in their institution’s home province.
  • 314 US patents were issued in 2018, the most-ever reported in the Canadian Survey, as research institutions invest in and protect intellectual property arising from academic research.
  • Half of the Can$ 6.1 billion in research expenditures came from sources other than federally or industry-sponsored research.
Canadian Survey — Purchase the Report

Purchase the 2018 Canadian Licensing Activity Survey (including appendix summarizing data from individual institutions).
Purchase 2018 Canadian Survey

 
Download the free version of the 2018 Canadian Licensing Survey (does not include appendix summarizing data from individual institutions).
Download Free Version
 

US Survey — Key Findings

US research institutions posted a record number of patents in 2018 while continuing to pursure more non-traditional sources of funding. For the second year in a row, tech transfer institutions formed 1,080 start-ups, underscoring the continued focus on local entrepreneurial ecosystems.

  • 828 new consumer products born from academic research entered the market.
  • 7,625 US patents were issued in 2018, the most-ever reported in the Survey, as research institutions invest in and protect intellectual property arising from academic research.
  • Total research expenditures from sources outside the federal government and industry grew to $71.7 billion, an increase of 5.1% over 2017, and a 13.8% increase over the past five years.
  • 1,080 start-ups were formed in 2018, directly impacting local economies, with more than 69% of the new businesses remaining in their institution’s home state.
US Survey — Purchase the Report

Purchase the 2018 US Licensing Activity Survey (including appendix summarizing data from individual institutions).
Purchase 2018 US Survey

 
Download the free version of the 2018 US Licensing Survey (does not include appendix summarizing data from individual institutions).
Download Free Version
 

Search More Than 28 Years of Data
View the data online via STATT (Statistics Access for Technology Transfer), a searchable database of more than 28 years of data. All members whose institutions participated in the 2018 survey receive a free annual subscription to STATT. Members from non-participating institutions can purchase an annual subscription of STATT.

Survey Pricing
AUTM Member Status Publication Price
Members from Contributing Institutions Survey with Appendix Free
Members from Non-contributing Institutions Survey with Appendix $50
Non-members Survey with Appendix $375

STATT Database Pricing
AUTM Member Status STATT Product Price
Members from Contributing Institutions One-year Subscription Free
Members from Non-contributing Institutions One-year Subscription $225
Non-members One-year Subscription $525
 

About the Survey
Contributing to this survey were 198 US and 32 Canadian research institutions.