TRANSCRIPT
WYPR COMMENTARY

April 3, 2002

Anirban Basu, Director of Applied Economics at the Regional Economics Studies Institute (RESI), Towson University.

“A heightened emphasis on technology transfer at Johns Hopkins University is paying dividends, with the Baltimore institution raising its licensing income and increasing the number of start-up companies formed, according to new data. The statistics were compiled by the Association of University Technology managers, which annually surveys tech transfer activity at the nation’s universities.

“JHU booked $14.3 million in licensing income in 2000 and spun out 10 start-up companies. By contrast, in 1999 the university recorded $10.3 million in licensing income and spun out seven start-ups. The progress at Hopkins could mean big things for Baltimore.

“While Hopkins is unquestionably a research powerhouse, critics have questioned its impact as a high-tech economic development catalyst for Baltimore and the region. The Association of University Technology Managers data strongly suggests that Hopkins is in fact emerging as a serious economic development driver.

“For WYPR, I’m Anirban Basu.”