IP Outreach Research > IP Use and Awareness

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Main Findings

During the 2006-07 academic year, over 80% of higher education institutions (HEIs) have secured the capacity to seek out licensing opportunities. Back in 2000-01, less than 70% of HEIs had been able to seek out licensing opportunities. The absolute number of licences granted by HEIs is growing very fast: licences granted have increased by 21% from 2005-06, 15 % and 40% for non-software and software licences respectively.

Two thirds of institutions surveyed require all “inventions” to be reported to the appropriate colleagues/team, such as IP specialists. 58% make the same requirement for trademarks. Just around a quarter requires “literary or artistic works” to be always reported.

A large majority of HEIs directly reward staff for the generation of intellectual property (IP), usually in the form of a proportion of the revenue generated. Disclosures have increased by 11% from 2005-06, confirming the rising number of disclosures made by HEIs since 2000-01. Patent applications and new patents granted both increased from 2005-06 to 2006-07, by 25% and 12% respectively. Resources invested in IP protection increased 22%, reaching over £20 million.

Income from IP has declined slightly in real terms in 2006-07, amounting to £58.4 million (70% of which comes from licensing, and one third of which from spin-off company share sales).

Overall, 47% of institutions report having on-campus incubators, and more than half provide entrepreneurship training. Spin-off company survival rates (number still active which have survived at least 3 years) are on the rise: compared to 2003-04, 35% more formal spin-off companies are active after three years.

[Date Added: Oct 21, 2008 ]