Commercialization of New Technologies

This Web-based document was archived by the Minnesota Legislative Reference Library.

The official site of Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura

Technology advancement and applications can lead to increased productivity and competitiveness of today's businesses and to the start-up of businesses that become tomorrow's economic giants - and giant employers.

As part of our global readiness strategy, we need to help maximize access to technology and the commercialization of new technologies. We also need to encourage the successful transfer of research and technology from our state's major research university and other research institutions in the private sector.

Lead Departments:	Department of Trade and Economic Development
	Administration
Support:	Department of Health
	University of Minnesota
	Minnesota Technology, Inc.
	IRRRB
	AURI (Agricultural Utilization Research Institute)

The Big Accounting Initiative Score
Graph depicting licensing agreements between University of Minnesota and private sector.
Click here to see The Big Accounting scores for all initiatives

Goal: Increase innovation in Minnesota.

Number of new patents issued and attributable to Minnesota activities.

Level of Minnesota research and development expenditures by industry and academia.

Goal: Improve technology transfer from academia to industry.

Number of University of Minnesota licensing agreements with the private sector.

Number of new patents issued and attributable to Minnesota activities.

Graph depicting the number of new patents issued for Minnesota activites.

New Patents
Minnesota	1990: 1,476	1995: 1,943	1996: 2,000	1997: 2,059	1998: 2,780	1999: 2,901	2000: 2,993	2001 Target: 3,050	2001 Actual: 2,926	2002 Target: 3,200
U.S. total	1990: 52,976	1995: 64,510	1996: 69,419	1997: 69,922	1998: 90,701	1999: 94,094	2000: 97,016	2001 Target:	2001 Actual:	2002 Target:
MN as percent of U.S. total	1990: 2.8%	1995: 3.0%	1996: 2.9%	1997: 2.9%	1998: 3.1%	1999: 3.1%	2000: 3.1%	2001 Target:	2001 Actual:	2002 Target:

Note: Patents protect the ability of inventors and developers to profit from their innovations. Patents are granted to new ideas which translate to growing businesses. The administration is working to increase the number of patents granted to Minnesota people and businesses. The number of patents issued to Minnesota entities increased every year except 1995, and Minnesota's share of U.S. patents increased between 1990 and 1998. Patents increased 103 percent in Minnesota between 1990 and 2000, while patents granted nationally only increased 83 percent. (Data from the U.S. Department of Commerce, Patent and Trademark Office.)

Learn more at http://www.dted.state.mn.us/big-pl-prog-rpt-f.asp or http://www.dted.state.mn.us

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Level of Minnesota research and development expenditures by industry and academia.

Graph depicting Minnesota R&D expenditures by industry and academia (in millions)

Minnesota R&D expenditures by industry and academia (in millions)
U.S. total R&D	1991: $160,521	1993: $165,688	1995: $183,543	1997: $212,192	1998: $226,415	1999:	2000:	2001 Target:	2002 Target:
MN total R&D	1991: $2,228	1993: $2,922	1995: $3,087	1997: $3,605	1998: $3,818	1999:	2000:	2001 Target:	2002 Target:
MN R&D as percent of U.S. R&D	1991: 1.4%	1993: 1.8%	1995: 1.7%	1997: 1.7%	1998: 1.7%	1999:	2000:	2001 Target:	2002 Target:
MN industry R&D	1991: $1,810	1993: $2,458	1995: $2,636	1997: $3,116	1998: $3,321	1999:	2000:	2001 Target:	2002 Target:
MN industry R&D (percent of MN total)	1991: 81.3%	1993: 84.1%	1995: 85.4%	1997: 86.4%	1998: 87.0%	1999:	2000:	2001 Target:	2002 Target:
MN academic R&D	1991: $331	1993: $332	1995: $337	1997: $363	1998: $365	1999:	2000:	2001 Target:	2002 Target:
MN academic R&D (percent of MN total)	1991: 14.9%	1993: 11.4%	1995: 10.9%	1997: 10.1%	1998: 9.5%	1999:	2000:	2001 Target:	2002 Target:

Note: Research and development funds stimulate innovation, and innovation stimulates the state's economy. The administration is working to create a business and academic climate that is helpful to R&D.

Total Minnesota research and development increased 71 percent between 1991 and 1998, while nationally, funding increased only 41 percent. Industry R&D as a percent of the state's total increased during the baseline period. Academic R&D as a percent of the state's total decreased during the baseline period. (Data from the National Science Foundation.)

Learn more at http://www.dted.state.mn.us/big-pl-prog-rpt-f.asp or http://www.dted.state.mn.us

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Number of University of Minnesota licensing agreements with the private sector.

Graph depicting licensing agreements between University of Minnesota and private sector.

Licensing agreements between U of M and private sector (by fiscal year)
Total agreements	1991: 30	1992: 41	1993: 45	1994: 42	1995: 49	1996: 42	1997: 50	1998: 76	1999: 74	2000: 79	2001 Target: 84	2002 Target: 90
Total agreements	1991: 11	1992: 15	1993: 10	1994: 12	1995: 17	1996: 18	1997: 13	1998: 25	1999: 23	2000: 28	2001 Target: 31	2002 Target: 36
Total agreements	1991: 19	1992: 26	1993: 35	1994: 30	1995: 32	1996: 24	1997: 37	1998: 51	1999: 51	2000: 51	2001 Target: 53	2002 Target: 54
Total agreements	1991: 37%	1992: 37%	1993: 22%	1994: 29%	1995: 35%	1996: 43%	1997: 26%	1998: 33%	1999: 31%	2000: 35%	2001 Target: 37%	2002 Target: 40%

Note: The University of Minnesota often does not have the ability to make full use of new technologies and other innovations that come from staff. The university enters into licensing agreements with companies which then develop and sell the its product. In return, the company agrees to pay a certain portion of its profits to the university. This arrangement ensures commercialization of new ideas and technologies and provides additional funding for research and education. Licensing agreements generally grew during the 1990s; each year, less than half of all university agreements were with Minnesota companies.

Learn more at http://www.dted.state.mn.us/big-pl-prog-rpt-f.asp or http://www.dted.state.mn.us

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