This paper explores changes in university patenting behavior between 1965 and 1988. We show that university patents have increased 15-fold while real university research spending almost tripled. The causes of this increase are unclear, but may include increased focus on commercially relevant...

Between 1965 and 1992 university patenting increased 1500%, while all patenting increased less than 50% and patents granted to US citizens remained constant. Because universities are dedicated to the principle of knowledge dissemination, knowledge transfer to the private sector is probable....