Carnegie Mellon - Olympus - Carnegie Mellon University

Carnegie Mellon University is a Proven Economic
Development Powerhouse
Carnegie Mellon University, one of the most prestigious research universities in the world, is
home to leading experts in a diverse range of fields. From computing to the arts to the
environment to biotechnology, Carnegie Mellon faculty and students are shaping the future
with a strong focus on finding practical answers to complex problems. With an appreciation of
interdisciplinary collaboration, Carnegie Mellon affords its researchers the freedom to look
across disciplines for solutions, benefiting from many perspectives.
Each year since 2005, Carnegie Mellon has averaged 10 direct spin-outs (companies that
licensed technology from Carnegie Mellon). Based upon peer comparisons, Carnegie Mellon has
the best “start-up efficiency” in terms of number of start-ups per research dollars, being twice
as efficient as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and three times more efficient
than Stanford University. Carnegie Mellon also stands out when compared to the top 100
research universities, coming in second overall in start-up efficiency.*
In addition, Carnegie Mellon annually produces 5 – 10 indirect faculty and student spin-offs
where the technology is developed while at Carnegie Mellon but the technology is not owned
or licensed by Carnegie Mellon. Over 200 companies in the region can attribute their roots to
Carnegie Mellon.
Further, collaboration with researchers at the University of Pittsburgh and the University of
Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) has further boosted productivity for the benefit of the
region.
Carnegie Mellon has taken proactive steps to help create this prolific growth. The university’s
favorable “5% go-in-peace” policy was designed to support faculty entrepreneurship. The fact
that Carnegie Mellon faculty generate approximately two new patentable ideas every week
attests to the entrepreneurial culture on campus.
*2007 Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM)
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