University of Pittsburgh

The University of Pittsburgh conducts over $620 million in sponsored research annually, and ranks 6th in National Institutes of Health awards. This research activity generates over 200 invention disclosures on an annual basis, which are evaluated by the Office of Technology Management (OTM) in conjunction with the University Technology Transfer Committee for technical merit, market potential and patentability. Over 50 licenses or option agreements are executed yearly and 60 companies have been spun out of the university from 1996 to 2006.

The Office of Technology Management actively seeks to license the University’s IP portfolio to existing companies and also plays a founder role in the formation of new companies around platform technologies. The OTM also assists outside companies in identifying research collaborators within the University and in negotiating sponsored research agreements for such collaborations. It is in this capacity that OTM serves as “the bridge between science and business” at the University of Pittsburgh.