Research Funding Grows: 2020 Survey

US Survey — Key Findings

Research institutions posted increased funding which could lead to the next generation of academic intellectual property, according to AUTM’s Annual Licensing Activity Survey, which polls US universities, hospitals and other research institutions.

The key findings of the 2020 US Survey:

• Total research expenditures grew to 83.1 billion, an increase of 7.6% over 2019, and a nearly 22.8% increase over the past five years.
• 27,112 disclosures were reported in 2020, an increase of 6.8% over prior year.
• US patents rose to 8,706, a 15.6% year-over-year jump.
• Universities are driving the innovation economy through small, entrepreneurial businesses with over three-fourths of licenses and options conducted through startups and small businesses.
• A record 1,117 startups were formed, directly impacting local economies, with nearly 69% of the new businesses remaining in their institution’s home state.

US Survey — Purchase

Purchase the 2020 US Licensing Survey (including appendix summarizing data from individual institutions). Purchase 2020 US Survey

  

Download the free version of the 2020 US Licensing Survey (does not include appendix summarizing data from individual institutions). Download Free Version

 

Canadian Survey — Key Findings

Canadian research institutions reported a record amount of research funding in 2020 while continuing to pursure more non-traditional sources of funding. Tech transfer institutions formed more than 100 startups, underscoring the continued focus on local entrepreneurial ecosystems.

• 104 startups were formed, directly impacting local economies, with more than 86% of the new businesses headquartered in their institution’s home province.
• Canadian institutions are increasingly filing new non-US patent applications compared to five years ago, with non-US patent applications representing 28.1% in 2020 vs. 24% in 2015.
• Nearly half of the record $6.97 (CAD) in total research expenditures came from sources other than federally or industry-sponsored research.

Canadian Survey — Purchase the Report

Purchase the 2020 Canadian Licensing Activity Survey (including appendix summarizing data from individual institutions). Purchase 2020 Canadian Survey

 

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

 

Our Latest Infographic

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

Customizable Infographic

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.

PowerPoints
Just need the report's charts? You can find them in these PowerPoints.
 

	Download the US charts for your own use.
	Download the Canadian charts 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 2020 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 2020 Survey sponsor:

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