Low Commercialization Rates of University Inventions

The podcast highlights the surprisingly low rate of commercialization of university patents in China, which stands at only 3.9%. This figure starkly contrasts with higher commercialization rates in the private sector and scientific research institutions, thus indicating a significant disconnect between university innovations and the marketplace. Factors contributing to this issue include a lack of entrepreneurial opportunities and the limited involvement of university professors in turning their inventions into market-ready products. As a result, a vast majority of patented university inventions never make it to consumers, raising concerns about the effectiveness of university innovation ecosystems.