Campus Highlights: UC Irvine

Campus Notes:

UCI’s Office of University/Industry Research and Technology (UIRT) was responsible for marketing and licensing two-thirds of the campus’ active invention portfolio in FY97. OTT provided administrative support for these inventions and fully managed the remainder of the portfolio. The data here represent activity for the entire UCI portfolio.

The invention disclosure rate remained stable and the number of new patent filings increased by one-third in FY97. A substantial increase in licensing activity reflected by the execution of six new licenses resulted in a 33% increase in the total number of active licenses in the Irvine portfolio.

Most UCI income is generated by one-time issue fees or milestone payments rather than by ongoing royalty streams. In FY97, adjusted gross income increased by more than 10% ($34,000) due to receipt of several large issue fees for new licenses.

Net legal expenses increased by $120,000 due to the increase in patent activity and a lag in the receipt of reimbursements from some licensees. The State share reflected a credit in FY97 because net legal expenses plus inventor share payments exceeded total income. UCI’s share of OTT operating expenses decreased by $56,000 as more licensing activity shifted to the campus. These data do not include UIRT operating expenses.

In total, the annual net loss decreased slightly to $201,000. UCI’s losses will likely continue until such time as licensed inventions, many of which are in the life sciences and require FDA approval, begin to generate steady streams of income. It also should be noted that the UCI program emphasizes the generation of research support linked to disclosed technologies rather than royalty income. The top three such awards in FY 97 totaled $10 million.