Technology Transfer

Rochester Ranks 6th in Research Revenue

A new ranking of academic institutions placed Rochester among the top in the nation in earning revenues from the research of University scientists and engineers during fiscal year 2002.

At $42 million, Rochester was sixth in the nation, according to a ranking published by the Chronicle of Higher Education. The figures, based on the year ending June 30, 2002, were collected in a survey conducted by the Association of University Technology Managers.

In 2001, Rochester’s technology transfer revenue topped $29 million, more than double the $13 million of 2000 and nearly 10 times the $3 million of 1999. The most lucrative patents include a childhood vaccine, computer technology used in offices around the world, and a technique for unprecedented accuracy in diagnosing aberrations in the eye.

The survey showed a trend among universities to reap more profits from their research.

In total, the academic institutions brought in nearly $1 billion in patent revenue for the year, a 16 percent increase from the year before. The survey tallied responses from 156 colleges and universities, including 94 of the 100 institutions that spend the most on research.