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Feb. 18, 2008
University among top 20 for number of start-ups created
The University of South Carolina ranked 19th among 155 comprehensive universities nationally and 14th among public universities for the number of start-up companies created in 2006, according to the latest national technology-transfer survey from the Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM).
The survey gauges academic intellectual-property licensing activities in the U.S. and Canada.
South Carolina was tied with the University of South Florida and with private universities Johns Hopkins, Northwestern and Cornell for the number of start-up companies created. The five universities each created six start-up companies in 2006.
"We surpassed many 'academic giants,' and we are very proud to be in such elite company," said Dr. Harris Pastides, vice president for research and health sciences.
John Parks, executive director of the university's Innovista research district, credits the university's significant investment in research, technology development and commercialization. Many of the start-ups are related to alternative energy, fuel cells and health sciences, areas of core research strength for the university and with the development of Innovista.
Both Parks and Pastides gave credit to a "hard-working team" of faculty across campus and staff in the Intellectual Property Office who work together to increase the university's technology disclosures.
"The recent rankings reflect a consistent effort over several years of our talented tech-transfer team and economic development leadership and especially to our deans and faculty," Pastides said.
Parks said the university's advances have had a positive impact on the economy at a statewide level.
"Combined with the University of South Carolina-City of Columbia Technology Incubator program and new laboratory infrastructure in Innovista, these efforts provide a solid foundation for attracting new knowledge economy jobs in South Carolina," Parks said.
The rankings bolster the university's position as one of the nation's top research institutions. The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Technology has designated the university a "very high research activity" university, the highest level of classification.
In addition to the number of company startups, the 11 categories ranked in the survey include the number of licensing staff members; the amount of funds put toward research; the number of licenses, invention disclosures and patents established by the university; and the university's income received from these inventions and privileges. Overall, the University of South Carolina was ranked in the top half in nine of the 11 categories for public universities in the survey.
— By Ashley Tjader
