A Europe-wide study of more than 800 university and public research technology transfer offices (TTOs) has identified a significant capacity gap that could hamper efforts to turn scientific discoveries into commercial technologies, despite the growing contribution of academic research to patenting.

The study, produced by the European Patent Office (EPO) with ASTP, the association for technology transfer professionals, and Fraunhofer ISI, analysed 809 TTOs using survey data and patent evidence. It provides the first comprehensive European benchmark of the sector, identifying 90.5% of offices ase small or medium sized, with just 9.5% classified as large-scale.

Large TTOs have six times as many staff, support institutions with 23 times the research expenditure and almost seven times the research workforce, and receive nearly 16 times more invention disclosures than their smaller counterparts, says the report.

However, smaller offices can progress inventions towards patents, licences and commercial ventures at rates comparable to larger organisations once they enter the technology transfer pipeline, with the main constraint being capacity. Lrger teams remain better placed to draw on specialist expertise, established processes and commercial networks.

The findings also highlight a continuing challenge in sustaining university-owned intellectual property. Patents involving European universities now account for around 9% of European patents, a situation comparable with US universities.

However, 40.7% of European patents directly owned by European universities lapse within ten years, compared with 26.3% of those owned by US universities.

Meanwhile, the contribution of public research institutions to strategic technologies is increasing. European patent applications involving universities, public research organisations or research hospitals have more than doubled over two decades, from around 3,200 in 2006 to almost 8,000 in 2025. 

Research institutions accounted for approximately 34% of European-origin biotechnology applications, 29% in quantum technologies and 26% in pharmaceuticals last year.

New data accompanying the study also highlights the UK's position. An EPO Data Desk dashboard identifies Oxford university as the country's leading public research institution for European patent applications, with 65 filings. Cambridge Enterprise, the University of Cambridge's commercialisation arm, follows with 47, with Imperial College Innovations ranking third with 38.

The EPO's Deep Tech Finder also places the UK first in Europe for the number of research spin-offs filing patent applications, identifying 723 companies. Of these, 405 (56%) are at an early growth stage, while 165 have reached the breakout stage. Only 48 have progressed to late-stage growth, defined by a valuation exceeding £377m or established global operations, while 105 have been acquired.

The figures underline the UK's contribution to commercialising academic research, but also the challenge of helping spin-outs progress beyond early development and achieve sustained growth.

EPO president António Campinos said strengthening technology transfer was essential to European competitiveness, arguing that scientific breakthroughs needed to reach the market to generate economic growth, jobs and strategic autonomy.

The study identifies six priorities for strengthening technology transfer, with a focus on building capacity, expertise and incentives to help Europe translate its research strengths into commercial success.

Pic: Bia Limova