Officials say the University of Massachusetts was awarded 65 U.S. patents during the past fiscal year— a record amount for the system.The university says it earned $34 million in licensing income from patented faculty inventions in the 2015 fiscal year ending June 30.
Among the patents are genetically modified microbes that can produce electrical current and a multi-touch controller that can be used to control a robot.
Abigail Barrow, interim executive director of the UMass Office of Technology Commercialization and Ventures, says companies are not doing as much basic research and are relying more on universities.
Barrow says UMass has been investing more in creating technology, particularly in the past five years.
She says the school is on track for many more patents.
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