UA ranks high for research return

According to a study, Akron has been ranked first in
the state on return per research dollar.

AKRON — The University of Akron stands out among the best schools in the country in terms of return on research investment and efficiency in transferring new technology to businesses, according to a new study.

The university has been named an exemplary institution for “successfully advanced innovation partnerships through technology transfer despite their modest research expenditures, rural locations and other challenges” in the study conducted by Innovation Associates Inc. of Reston, Va., and supported by the National Science Foundation.

Akron is one of 10 institutions of higher education examined in the report.

Though the federal government spends about $141 billion annually on research and development, its expenditures on technology transfer and commercialization are comparatively insignificant, according to the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

“There is a huge gap between patenting an invention and putting it to use in industry,” says Dr. George Newkome, Akron’s vice president for research and president of the research foundation. “Thus far, government organizations have done little to bridge the gap, so universities are finding ways to commercialize their technologies without additional financial support.”

The study cited four examples of Akron’s excellence: President Luis M. Proenza’s role in encouraging and fostering productive research; a focus on and building and leveraging core strengths such as polymers and related science and engineering fields; establishing long-term, industrial relationships; and the ongoing New Landscape for Learning campus enhancement initiative.

The university’s nonprofit research foundation has created 21 companies and continues to support research in the region and the university.

Akron’s “impressive team of professionals,” led by Newkome, was also singled out in the study.

The Ohio Board of Regents recently ranked the university first in the state for the highest rate of return per research dollar leading to the commercialization of technologies. The ranking was based on productive technology licenses, formation of start-up companies and direct industry research support by Ohio companies. Akron was followed by Ohio State and Case Western Reserve universities, both of which have large medical complexes.