Marketplace Morning Report Making university research make money
Dec 3, 2025
Chris Farrell, a senior economics contributor for Marketplace, dives into the changing landscape of university research funding. With federal cuts looming, institutions are pivoting to monetize innovations through startup spin-offs. He highlights Minnesota’s TechCom initiative, which has successfully backed 26 startups and aims to expand support for university inventions. The conversation also touches on the hiring pullback in small businesses, India's privacy concerns regarding smartphone surveillance, and mixed signals of optimism among younger consumers.
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Universities Turning Research Into Startups
- Universities increasingly monetize faculty research by patenting, licensing, and spinning off startups.
- The University of Minnesota's TechCom backed a record 26 startups last year and aims higher.
Spinoff Growth Has Concentrated Winners
- Growth in university spinoffs accelerated since 2020 with only a few schools producing 20+ startups annually.
- Minnesota now ranks among the top four universities for annual spin-offs.
TechCom's Hands-On Commercialization
- At Minnesota, TechCom has supported hundreds of inventions by patenting and licensing promising technologies.
- The office also directly helps form and fund startups from campus research.