Technology Transfer

The Alfred Mann Institutes (AMIs) work exceptionally closely with the university Technology Transfer Offices to review disclosures of university technologies. Pertinent biomedical technologies are presented to the AMI Executive Director to rapidly review and determine if the technology might benefit from the skills and resources resident within an AMI. Ultimately one to two projects per year are selected with a maximum of three to four projects in development at any one time. A series of check and balances enables the faculty inventors and the university to determine if the opportunity might best flourish within an AMI or if alternate paths to commercialization would provide the best potential for success for a given technology.

According to the AUTM: Association of University Technology Managers, more than $50 billion per year in sponsored research are spent annually at the major research universities. Approximately 5,000 patents are issued to universities annually, yet it is estimated that many potential technologies, pharmaceuticals and biologics are untapped by traditional technology transfer processes at most universities.

While return on investment (ROI) is not a primary goal of universities focused on academic, research and teaching, the AMIs make it possible to balance the portfolio, generating higher value and returns on technology transfer for the university and its inventors.

Universities that license biomedical technology at the basic research/discovery stage are likely to receive 1 to 2% in royalties, if and when a product is ultimately commercialized. The likelihood of commercialization and rate of return can increase five-fold when manufacturing prototypes are completed by a university-based AMI. These rates of return can be further increased if technology transfer to industry occurs closer to the point of FDA approval or certification.