KU Leuven reaps financial benefits of pioneering research

Flemish researchers can protect the rights on their research results via patents and then sell the rights via a licence agreement to companies or governments. If a company turns findings into a commercial success, the university and researcher receive royalties.

KU Leuven invested in this method by establishing the Leuven Research & Development team in 1972, to make scientists aware of the commercial potential of their work. In 2010, its income through commercialisation of research amounted to €52 million. The increase to €118 million constitutes a growth of 125% in six years.

Ghent is the region’s second-highest earner through commercialising research, with annual income of €1 to €2 million. The three other universities – in Brussels (VUB), Antwerp and Hasselt – make a few hundred thousand euros or less each year.

KU Leuven’s largest commercial successes were the blood thinner t-PA, developed by Professor Désiré Collen, and the antiretroviral drug tenofovir, developed by the Rega Institute for Medical Research.

Photo courtesy KU Leuven