Rethinking Commercialisation: Should public research organisations focus on fewer, higher-impact IP assets for greater return?

The SCOPR® 2023 report released this week highlights a steady increase in active Licenses, Options, and Assignments (LOAs) across Australia’s public research organisations, with a 17.81% rise in LOAs since 2020, peaking in 2021 with a slight reduction in more recent years.  Commercialisation income has also grown, though at a slower pace of 12.40%. While some delay between LOAs, spin-outs and revenue is expected, the difference in growth rates raises questions about the alignment between intellectual property volume and its potential value. Are public research organisations focusing too much on increasing IP output, rather than strategically investing in high-impact, high-value assets?

The report also reveals that institutions with the most LOAs aren’t necessarily generating the highest income. This discrepancy could be due to differing strategic choices or the disciplines involved, but it also suggests that some organisations might be taking a more deliberate approach—focusing on fewer, higher-value IP assets to maximise their limited resources for greater impact. For example, equity holdings have surged by 47.76% since 2020, showing that institutions are increasingly targeting strategic investments that align with their long-term goals. Similarly, spin-outs have grown by 47.29%, indicating an emphasis on creating high-potential ventures rather than sheer volume.

As someone who’s observed these trends evolve, I believe this data highlights a potential shift in how Australia’s innovation ecosystem might approach commercialisation. Could a more strategic, quality-driven focus on fewer, high-value opportunities ultimately deliver better outcomes—not just for universities and other public sector organisations but for Australia’s broader research impact? This approach can potentially create stronger, long-term results, especially as organisations continue to increase their capacity with a 44.93% rise in research commercialisation staff since 2020.

I’m keen to hear from others—what are your thoughts? Could refining our focus on quality and impact transform Australia’s innovation sector? Let’s continue the conversation! I’d love to hear your thoughts on these trends and how we can drive better outcomes through strategic commercialisation. Join me on LinkedIn to share your insights and keep the discussion going.

Note: The number of survey respondents has grown over the years, and the report also notes that not all respondents answer every question, which will affect the completeness of the analysis.