In some cases, this has worked out well. However, more attention to commercial mobility is needed. CATD funds are viewed by many faculty as a source of funds for their research projects, and insufficient market analysis has lead to funding of projects that are not commercially viable. Once technology has been identified as having commercial potential, the process of protecting it is straightforward. It is also a time consuming and expensive process.
Faculty tend to neglect it due to the time requirements.
Funding of the patenting process is usually provided if the administration sees commercial potential. The primary objective of licensing university technology to businesses in Iowa is to create more high quality, high paying jobs. This is where the maximum benefit will be obtained for the people of the state. The objective of technology licensing should not be to provide a revenue stream to the state or university. When license revenues are removed from the business, especially a start up venture, the growth rate and the probability of success of the commercialization are greatly reduced.