Arizona's Universities - Technology Transfer Programs Performance Audit

Technology transfer occurs when a university moves inventions from academic research labs to industry for further development, production, and marketing. Arizona’s universities can enhance their technology transfer programs in a few areas. To increase the number of commercially viable inventions disclosed, the universities should increase interaction between licensing officers and inventors, and improve incentives that are offered to inventors. The universities should improve aspects of their marketing practices. They should also take steps to improve management of conflicts of interest.