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Tech TransferIndirect supportEquity takenVerified

Center for Technology Licensing

Also known as: CTL, Cornell Technology Transfer

Cornell University · Ithaca, NY

The Center for Technology Licensing (CTL) is Cornell University's technology transfer office, serving all Cornell campuses (Ithaca, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell Tech, and Cornell AgriTech). CTL manages intellectual property, patenting, licensing, and startup formation from university research. Since inception, CTL has spun out more than 230 technology startups that have collectively raised over $3.2 billion in funding.

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Quick fit check

  • Indirect support only
  • Takes equity
  • Currently active
  • Verified by research

Key numbers

Funding range

$0 – $0

Licensing

Equity

Equity taken

Application

Ongoing

Campus Wide

Last activity

2026-03-06

High confidence

Application and Timing

Ongoing engagement for invention disclosures, patenting, and licensing. CTL Practicum: annual cohort (at capacity as of 2025-26).

Participants

Cornell faculty, researchers, graduate students, postdocs, and staff across all campuses. CTL serves inventors in disciplines including chemistry, engineering, IT, materials science, medicine, plant science, and veterinary medicine.

Funding and Equity

  • Offices do not provide direct program funding but enable access to gap funds, incubators, and investors.
  • Equity or royalty structures are common in university spinout licenses.
  • FastTrack Startup License program streamlines path for physical/engineering sciences.
  • CTL Practicum: paid training program for STEM/MBA students in tech transfer.

Recent Activity

FY25: record 20 startups launched, $450M raised, FY25 Tech Commercialization Report released March 2026. Qualcomm acquisition of Cornell AI software startup. NPSeal high-tech healing patch featured. 93 licenses/options executed.

Verification Gaps

  • Cumulative metrics ($3.2B, 230 startups) may include overlapping counts.
  • Active portfolio of 100 companies is a subset of cumulative 230+.
  • Equity percentages in spinouts not publicly standardized.

Center for Technology Licensing

Key Metrics

  • 230+ cumulative startups based on Cornell technologies.
  • 75 startups formed in 2021-2025 (5-year period).
  • 20 new startups in FY25 (highest single-year total ever).
  • $3.2B cumulative funding raised.
  • $2.4B raised by startups in 2021-2025.
  • $450M raised in FY25 alone.
  • 93 licenses and options executed FY25.
  • $122M revenue from 2021-2025.
  • Portfolio includes 100 active companies (34 in NYS).

Programming

  • CTL Practicum: paid training for STEM/MBA students in technology assessment, patenting, and licensing.
  • Cornell Innovation & Venture Advisors (CIVA): expert community reviewing emerging technologies.
  • Gap funding series management.
  • FastTrack Startup License: streamlined licensing for engineering/physical sciences.
Additional research notesShow