The University of Texas at Austin has released its first annual report for Discovery to Impact, highlighting significant progress in moving research discoveries from the university into commercial markets. The report details the university’s efforts in forming startups, collaborating with industry partners, and licensing technologies developed by UT researchers.
“Research breakthroughs discovered by UT faculty and innovators produce life-changing products and services that benefit people across Texas and around the world,” said UT President Jim Davis. “From the forefront of AI and deep tech to reimaging material sciences and the future of health care, UT remains committed to investing in innovation, cultivating a culture of entrepreneurship, and recruiting world-class talent.”
According to the report, UT faculty generated 300 invention disclosures in 2025—a 15% increase over fiscal year 2024. These disclosures led to 154 new patent applications, 112 new licensing agreements, and 16 corporate-sponsored research agreements.
Andrew Maas, assistant vice president of technology transfer for Discovery to Impact, credited these results to both researchers and staff who evaluate market opportunities for inventions. “The credit for these achievements goes to our amazing researchers and scientists as well as to the Discovery to Impact team who analyze market opportunities and technology readiness to determine an invention’s commercialization potential,” Maas said. “This leads to discoveries with more meaningful real-life applications that are better positioned for licensing or other partnerships for commercialization.”
Currently, the university maintains more than 850 active license agreements with companies using its intellectual property. There are also over 650 technologies available for licensing across sectors including emerging technology, advanced materials, energy solutions, and health sciences.
“This fiscal year, we have grown UT’s invention disclosures, patents, technology licenses, and industry research agreements that result in millions of dollars in revenue that is reinvested back into UT’s research enterprise to further innovation and venture creation,” said Mark Arnold, associate vice president of Discovery to Impact and managing director of Longhorn Ventures.
UT has also established itself as a leader in startup creation. It ranks second among public universities nationally—and eighth among all universities globally—according to PitchBook 2025. Over the past three academic years, UT spun out 48 startups led by students or faculty members. Hundreds more startups have received support from Discovery to Impact during this period.
Financial support is provided through initiatives like the $10 million UT Seed Fund managed by Discovery to Impact. In 2025 alone, four new startups received investment from this fund across computer science, physical science, and life science fields.
Discovery to Impact launched a faculty ambassador program in 2025 aimed at fostering innovation within each college or school at UT Austin. Fernanda Leite, interim vice president for research at UT Austin described it as a key step toward integrating innovation throughout campus: “By activating trusted faculty liaisons in every school and college, we aim to accelerate translation of research into real-world impact — strengthening , enabling seamless licensing, and scaling up innovations that change lives across Texas and beyond,” Leite said.
Discovery to Impact also manages several on- and off-campus spaces dedicated to innovation such as the Texas Innovation Center along with newly opened facilities like Innovation Tower and UT Innovation Labs.
“We have big ambitions to invest early and strategically in the most promising ideas and inventions while scaling up the support, programs and spaces that allow UT innovators and entrepreneurs to grow and thrive,” Arnold said.
