Commercialization Performance
Over the past five years, University of Washington research has generated more than 800 new U.S. patent filings and 1,600-plus licenses, alongside 100-plus active spinoff companies that today employ over 3,000 people. Since 1995, UW spinoffs have raised more than $10 billion in capital, and the UW stands second only to Microsoft as a source of the region’s startup founders — continuing to drive both economic and societal impact across the Puget Sound region and beyond. Read more about our impact below and see why the UW ranks among the top organizations powering Washington’s technology economy.
Highlights
- The University of Washington ranks #2 among parent organizations on the Washington Tech Universe Map 2026
- #3 in U.S. for number of licenses executed – Association of University Technology Managers – 2025
- #7 Best university in U.S. for technology transfer – Milken Institute’s Concept to Commercialization: The Best Universities For Technology Transfer – 2017
- #7 University powering global innovation – Clarivate identifies top 50 universities powering global commercialization – 2025
Mapping our Impact
The breadth and diversity of discoveries disclosed to CoMotion over the years is staggering, a testament to the spirit of innovation that lives within every department, of every college or school, on all three UW campuses. Use our interactive visualization tools to explore UW innovations, patent filings, and spinoffs, and see for yourself—innovation is everywhere at UW.