Office of Technology Commercialization
Impact Report
Economic Impact
To unleash the innovation taking place on campus into the world to drive greater economic and social impact.
10
30%
NEW START-UP COMPANIES
22
NEW LICENSES
awards for
40 2016 $1.02m 195 75+ 99 issued US patents
17%
6 mii $780k
20%
Mission
100%
Currently, the university generates about 200 invention disclosures each year, which result in about 10 tech start-ups each year. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s 2016 report on Enterprising States ranked Maryland No. 2 in talent pipeline, No. 3 in innovation and entrepreneurship, and No. 5 in high tech performance.
NEW DISCLOSURES RECEIVED
research agreements reviewed
license income
NEW AGREEMENTS EXECUTED
Office of Technology Commercialization: History and Impact Faculty and student research at the University of Maryland has the potential to improve lives and stimulate economic growth in the state of Maryland. To foster this potential, the university has developed a comprehensive innovation ecosystem to help translate ideas into action by transforming research into new ventures, collaborations, and marketplace products. In 1986, the University of Maryland created the Office of Technology Commercialization (OTC), formerly known as the Office of Technology Liaison, to provide expert guidance, support, and assistance in: >> safeguarding intellectual property; >> facilitating technology transfer; and >> promoting collaborative research and development agreements with industrial sponsors. The university’s many innovations stimulate the regional and state economy, provide valuable products for public use and benefit, and help fuel research and entrepreneurial initiatives through partnerships and collaborations both within and beyond the University of Maryland. OTC is proud to serve as a liaison between university members and the business community to further these projects. In 30 years of operations, OTC has seen steady growth in commercialization efforts. During this time, OTC has: >> recorded more than 3,100 information, life, and physical science invention disclosures; >> secured more than 650 U.S. patents; >> licensed more than 700 technologies to business and industry; >> generated more than $25M in technology transfer income; and >> facilitated the creation of nearly 100 IP-based startup companies. A core component of the University of Maryland’s Division of Research and the university’s thriving innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem, OTC helps innovative new campus technologies grow and make an impact on human lives as the university builds on its strengths in science and engineering, information technology, behavioral and social sciences, arts and humanities, and biotechnology.
UM Ventures OTC is also a core component of UM Ventures, a joint initiative of the MPowering the State Program, bringing together the University of Maryland, College Park and University of Maryland, Baltimore to commercialize discoveries and create economic impact by engaging partners in industry and social ventures. By encouraging our students and faculty and providing expert advice and business services, we will help more discoveries and innovations at both campuses reach the market. Engaging directly with external partners will bring new investment, expanded markets, and more startup ventures.
Entrepreneurial Ecosystem The University of Maryland is dedicated to encouraging entrepreneurship among students and faculty. OTC is a critical component in UM Ventures’ efforts to integrate campus-wide entrepreneurial activities, support success and impact of university-originated products and services, while building and promoting the regional innovation ecosystem.
Services Our experienced, interdisciplinary team is here to guide university faculty, staff, and students through the technology transfer cycle.
1954
1st patent assigned to UMD issued for a method of producing a Newcastle disease virus vaccine
1960
UMD inventions administered by outside agent
>> Government compliance >> Patenting >> Licensing >> Royalty distributions
Ventures
Technology Transfer OTC helps campus inventors and innovators with the following services:
>> Intellectual property disclosure
1980
>> Entrepreneurs-in-residence >> Entrepreneur office hours >> Pitch competitions >> I-Corps mentoring >> Access to proof-of-concept, seed, start-up support funds
Bayh-Dole Act passed
1986
Office of Technology Liaison (OTL) established to administer all UMD inventions
Technology Licensing
Patent Maintenance
Issued Patent
Patent Prosecution
Patent Filing
Patent Preparation
Patent Process
Invention Disclosure
A major objective of OTC is to match university inventions with potential sponsors or licensees. As the university’s licensing arm, OTC executes a range of license, option, and collaboration agreements. OTC seeks to foster constructive and beneficial relationships between industry and the university so that each organization may enjoy the results of cooperative efforts.
Patenting OTC works with campus inventors to guide them through the intellectual property protection process.
1987
OTL records its first license agreement through its predecessor Research Corporation with Microwave Scalpel Inc., a company based on Dr. Leonard Taylor’s microwave scalpel invention of 1979
1st startup license
1988
to Oceanix Biosciences Corp., later NovaScreen Biosciences Corporation, a Maryland-based provider of drug discovery and development services and products
1st Invention of the Year for 1987
awarded to Ben Shneiderman and Richard Potter for Touch Screen Finger Mouse
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In ve n
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Research & Development
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Technology Transfer Cycle
Products & Services
Technology Assessment
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Established company
Start-up company
1989
First product launched
1992
$1m cumulative total licensing income
Venture Creation OTC helps advise and guide inventors to campus resources for establishing new startups. We work closely with our campus partners to support our College Park inventors launch their technology through new ventures. Working with OTC and its partners, campus entrepreneurs can benefit from a wide range of services that help create successful technology ventures and connect innovators with university resources to help them succeed.
1995
500th invention disclosure
for new raspberry variety
1996
th 200 license th 100 patent issued th 80 product for Method for Shipment and Ripening of Peaches, Nectarines & Plums (Walsh, et al.)
on the market
Impact
N5 Sensors N5 Sensors, Inc. has developed a novel chemical and gas sensor technology for industrial, environmental, and safety monitoring. The technology combines the sensitive transduction capability of semiconducting nanostructures with the enhanced photocatalytic efficiency of nanoclusters to create microscale, low-power sensors on a single chip for detection of different target gases in the air. Blue, a detector node comprised of N5’s gas sensor chips and integrated with a multiplatform app, provides real-time tracking of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and other harmful household gases.
gel-e Life Sciences gel-e Life Sciences, formerly known as Remedium Technologies, has created a proprietary life-saving technology called Hemogrip, which acts to stop traumatic bleeding rapidly. Hemogrip is able to orchestrate the self-assembly of a clot-like seal upon contact with blood. Severe hemorrhage is the leading cause of death on the battlefield; within the civilian setting, traumatic injuries are the leading cause of death among surgery patients under the age of 44. gel-e Life Sciences is dedicated to saving lives both in the field and in the operating room.
2000 2005 OTL renamed
as Office of Technology Commercialization (OTC)
$1m cumulative total licensing income
Impact
(CONT.)
VisiSonics Corporation VisiSonics Corporation has created a totally immersive audio experience using innovative technology in the area of 3-D sounds. VisiSonics has developed methods for creating 3-D audio for gaming and virtual reality applications. In 2014, Oculus licensed VisiSonics RealSpace 3-D Audio for the upcoming release of their Oculus VR Software Development Kit. They have also partnered with automakers like Tesla.
GripBoost Grip Boost LLC has invented an inexpensive, quickdrying gel that keeps football gloves ready for the next great play. The company’s founders combined their expertise in science and sports to produce a product to help restore old gloves to a like-new condition, while also leaving no residue on the ball.
2009
University brings in $518m
in research funding, a 29 percent increase over 2008
2,000th invention disclosure
2016
University surpasses previous records, reaching $560m in external research funding
th 3,000 invention disclosure for Alternative Anode for Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (Wachsman, et al.)
30
th
Anniversary of OTC
180 products
on the market since 1987
98 startup, th
Living Canopies Ltd., formed to commercialize Smart Living Market Umbrella (Tilley, et al.)
More than $30m cumulative total income
More than $20m
raised by UMD IP-based start-ups over the past 10 years
University of Maryland Office of Technology Commercialization 2130 Mitchell Building 7999 Regents Drive College Park, MD 20742 Phone: 301-405-3947 Fax: 301-314-9502 Email: umdtechtransfer@umd.edu