University of California System

The University of California (“UC”) system is the nation’s leader in academic research and technology transfer. In addition to its ten world-class campuses, UC participates in the management of three Department of Energy National Laboratories. Collectively, these institutions account for over $4 billion annually in funded research, which generates approximately 1,300 new invention disclosures and nearly $100 million in licensing income each year—since 1994, UC has received more issued U.S. patents each year than any other university. UC currently has an active portfolio of over 7,000 inventions.

UC’s technology transfer program plays a key role in building relationships between private businesses and the UC research community, helping to advance knowledge, solve challenging technological problems, and spur economic development and the emergence of new industries. UC’s coordinated system of technology transfer includes a central Office of Technology Transfer in Oakland and local technology transfer offices at its campuses and laboratories.

Through these technology transfer offices, companies are able to access new and emerging technologies and establish partnerships and collaborations with leading UC scientists. These tech transfer activities range from licensing patented technologies, tangible materials, and patented plants such as strawberry cultivars; to facilitating industry sponsorship of research and creating start-up companies based on UC inventions.