European university-industry collaboration speeds ahead of US

A Europe-wide survey has found that European collaboration between industry and universities outstrips that of the US. The survey, carried out by Proton Europe, compared information from European university knowledge transfer offices affiliated to European Public Research Organisations with tech-transfer data from the American AUTM (Association of University Technology Managers).

“Taking into account the under-representation of Nordic countries, and even Germany, contract research in Europe is clearly above that of the US in 2005,” said Fernando Conesa, CTT deputy director and survey analyst, “In Europe, contract research amounted to €2.8 billion in 2005, compared to €2.1 billion in the US.”

According to Fonseca this advantage is off-set by the US’s more advanced knowledge transfer based on patents. Instead, Europe has traditionally had a collaborative approach to research, based on smaller industrial companies. This tradition has led to strong framework programmes, such as the current 7th EU framework programme for research and development.  In contrast, the US has bigger companies with stronger absorption capacity that are less dependent on collaboration.

The survey shows that almost 25 per cent of research institutions involved in knowledge transfer with industry have no IP patented. Patents are expensive in Europe, with average research expenditure per patent €4 million for filing and around €11 million per patent for international extension – leading to patent filing rates in Europe at one-fifth the level in the US. These findings suggest policy-making at national and EU level should focus on patents.  

Levels of spin-out formation in Europe were comparable with the US, but the success of the spin-outs seemed to be dependent on market conditions, context and venture capital, rather than initial formation – and therefore not dependent on the actions of the research organisations themselves.