Research Funding Grows: 2021 Survey

US Survey — Key Findings

The results of this year’s AUTM Licensing Survey confirm that some effects of the global pandemic were still being felt in fiscal year 2021, but they also provide a number of reasons to be optimistic that the technology transfer industry has the resilience needed to survive and thrive despite recent challenges.

The key findings of the 2021 US Survey:

• Total research expenditures topped $81.9 billion, with federal sources accounting for the largest share of funding at 57.6%.
• Overall, the total licenses reported in the survey rose to 8,614, with 70% of licenses executed as non-exclusive agreements.
• Technologies developed at universities and other research institutions led to 996 startups being formed, which directly impacts local economies; two thirds of the new businesses are headquartered in their institution’s home state.

US Survey — Purchase

Purchase the 2021 US Licensing Survey (including appendix summarizing data from individual institutions). Purchase 2021 US Survey

  

 

Canadian Survey — Key Findings

More Canadian institutions completed this year’s AUTM Licensing Activity Survey (37) than in any year since 2014, a positive trend that allows us to paint a more complete picture of the industry and will help technology transfer withstand the lingering effects of the global pandemic and other challenges.

• Total research expenditures topped $7.4 billion (CAD), with federal sources accounting for the largest share of funding at 45.2%.
• Overall, the total licenses reported in the survey rose to 728 with the number of executed options increasing 44.7% over the prior year.
• A record 125 startups were formed, directly impacting local economies, with more than 91% of the new businesses headquartered in their institution’s home province.

Canadian Survey — Purchase the Report

Purchase the 2021 Canadian Licensing Activity Survey (including appendix summarizing data from individual institutions). Purchase 2021 Canadian Survey

   

Our Latest Infographic

Discover how academic technology transfer is driving the innovation economy and benefiting society. Download and share this infographic.

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Share your tech transfer office's impact data with this customizable infographic: Just add your numbers to the blank tech transfer life cycle. Download the fillable infographic for your own use.

 

Search 30 Years of Data
View the data online via STATT (Statistics Access for Technology Transfer), a searchable database of nearly three decades of data. All members whose institutions participated in the 2021 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 Data	Free
Members from Non-contributing Institutions	Survey Data	$50
Non-members	Survey Data	$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

  

Thank you to the 2021 Survey sponsors:

To learn about sponsorship opportunities in the tech transfer industry's go-to report, contact AUTM Sponsor & Exhibits Manager, Casey Annunziata.