A new study shows industry-funded academic research has a strong track record of leading to innovative patents and licences.
Researchers analysed 12,516 inventions and related licenses at nine University of California (UC) campuses and three associated national laboratories.
Nearly 1500 inventions were supported at least partly by private industry and the study found these yielded patents or licences more frequently than government-funded ones.
The study’s authors said they were surprised by the results but added the study shouldn’t be used to relax oversight on industry funding as certain industries have been shown to manipulate questions and public discourse for their benefit.
Read more at University of California