158
Invention Disclosures
FY 2025
40
Executed Licenses & Options
FY 2025
$6.2M
Licensing Revenue
FY 2025
Data Sources: Innovate Carolina Startups Database, UNC Office of Technology Commercialization, Association of University Technology Managers; UNC startups employment data (most recent analysis, July 2022)
Research discoveries that sit dormant on lab shelves don't do anyone any good. That's why Innovate Carolina's Office of Technology Commercialization team works closely with UNC-Chapel Hill researchers to take their scientific discoveries to market. Whether it's licensing Carolina-born technologies to industry or launching new startups, we find the smartest paths to human and economic impact.
94
New Provisional Patent Applications
FY 2025
60
Issued U.S. Patents
FY 2025
12
IP-Based Startups Launched
FY 2025
UNC IP-Based Startups
Still Active
Headquartered in NC
Jobs Created by IP-Based Startups
Located in NC
of active UNC IP-Based startups are headquartered in NC
Data Sources: Innovate Carolina Startups Database, UNC Office of Technology Commercialization, Association of University Technology Managers; UNC startups employment data (most recent analysis, FY 2024)
Go-to-market momentum
Carolina's commercialization impact
Cumulative
4,776
Invention Disclosures
1,994
New Provisional Patent Applications
1,426
Issued U.S. Patents
1,426
Executed Licenses & Options
$145.9M
Licensing Revenue
Health and life sciences. Our startup lifeblood.
90% of UNC-Chapel Hill's federal funding comes from four agencies: NIH, USAID, NSF and DHHS. This reflects the University's emphasis on health and life sciences programs and its outstanding schools of medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, nursing and public health. This foundation translates into strong life science-based startups that develop new therapeutics, diagnostics and medical devices aimed to create healthier outcomes for all.
$14.6B
in funding raised by UNC IP-based startups
(Since 1958)
$475M
in annual revenue earned by UNC IP-based startups
(FY 2025)
$551M
in federal SBIR/STTR grants secured by UNC startups
(Since 1958)
of total UNC IP-based startups are focused on life sciences
Success Stories
Innovate Carolina Impact Dashboard Data Sources: Innovate Carolina Startups Database, UNC Office of Technology Commercialization, Association of University Technology Managers; UNC startups employment data (most recent analysis FY 2025) © 2025 Innovate Carolina All Rights Reserved