University Spin-Out Companies: Starting to Fill the Evidence Gap

University spin-outs have been receivingprominent attention as a means ofuniversity research commercialization.This preliminary assessment sought to determine the significance of thereported numbers of university spin-outs and the weight that should be put ontheir interpretation. Also considered was whether it would be feasible toassemble a time series of key data on spin-out performance that would be usefulfor universities and national policy organizations. Data were collected from ten United Kingdom universities (four withthelargest research budgets, three in major cities, and three withsmaller budgets), as well as spin-outs formed in 1998-2002 in which theuniversity had an equity stake. Chapter two provides a brief history of university commercializationactivities in the U.K., including government plans to support spin-offs,metrics for commercialization, and the licensing of spin-outs. Chapter three reviews the spin-out activity and experience at the tenuniversities, and the findings from the individual companies. It was found thatthere are three categories of spin-out companies: those with identifiably highgrowth potential, those likely to be a serious business, and those that arelegal vehicles for commercialization of technology. It was also found that atsome universities there were more start-ups than spin-offs because of relevantuniversity policies. The characteristics of spin-outs are summarized. Appendix A lists data to be collected on university spin-outs. Appendix Bsummarizes data from the ten universities by regional context, key universitydata (research income and resource allocations), experience with spin-outs,external linkages, current reflections, future plans, and related websites.(TNM)