Invention central at U-M

You'd think there was some mad scientist working on the University of Michigan's campus, considering how many inventions were churned out in 2009.

Excerpt:

University of Michigan researchers disclosed 350 new inventions in fiscal year 2009, setting a new record. Royalties from university-developed technologies rose 20 percent during that period, another all-time high.

And despite the state's economic woes, the university licensed eight new startups in the fiscal year that ended June 30, according to the UM Office of Technology Transfer.

"This past year, when we were expecting a slowdown and anticipating three, maybe four, new start-ups, faculty responded -- with eight," UM President Mary Sue Coleman said Monday in her State of the University address. "In the past nine years, faculty have launched 83 start-ups. That's roughly one new business, every six weeks, since 2001.

Added Coleman: "Universities drive economic development. Our faculty are looking the recession in the eye and moving forward."

Read the entire article here.


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