Investment in Education
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"The current biotech industry in the State of Washington would not exist without the presence of the University of Washington, its medical school and all the affiliated medical facilities. ICOS is an example of a biotech company which is here because the UW was here during the formation of the company." --George Rathmann, CEO and Chairman of the Board, ICOS Corporation
The University of Washington is a powerful magnet for attracting investment in the research capabilities of its faculty. The majority--over 70 percent--of this investment comes from the federal government. An additional 25 percent comes from industry and private foundations, associations, and other governmental agencies.
For almost thirty years, the UW has been among the top five universities in America--public and private--in the amount of federal funding received annually for research and training. In fiscal year 1995, th e most recent for which data are available, the UW ranked second. Every year since 1974, the UW has been the top public university in receipt of federal funds for research.
Many of the discoveries resulting from UW research have commercial potential and give rise to new products and even new companies. In the past forty years, over 130 new companies have been formed to commercialize UW-developed technologies, and the rate of new-company formation has accelerated dramatically in the last few years. Altogether, UW-related start-up companies have generated about 6,500 jobs and total annual sales of over $1 billion in 1997. As of fiscal 1997, the UW had 258 technologies licensed to companies generating $8.5 million of income for the University.
Through consultation and collaboration, many faculty provide research, technical assistance, and expertise to industries in a variety of important sectors of the state's economy. Beneficiaries range from aerospace, electronics, and computing firms to those in fisheries , forestry, and health services. Faculty also serve as a resource for various state and federal governmental agencies and more broadly for general business activities.
The following are but a few examples of how faculty at the UW interact with selected industries in the state:
Forestry and Related Products
The Center for International Trade in Forest Products (CINTRAFOR) in the
College of Forest Resources provides research, outreach, education, and
information to enhance state and regional trading potential in the export
and import of wood and wood fiber products. The Center is a partnership
between University faculty, business leaders, and public policy makers.
In another effort, the Stand Management Cooperative conducts research to improve forestry management strategies. The Cooperative involves 24 members from the forest industry, state, federal, and provincial organizations that manage forest land, plus five universities and research laboratories.
Fisheries
Through the Columbia River Salmon Passage Model (CRiSP), faculty in the
School of Fisheries have developed computer simulations of salmon
migration and survival in the Columbia River Basin. Information on this
model is distributed to power producers, fishery managers (state, federal,
and tribal), and decision makers throughout the region. The CRiSP models
are being used on a daily basis by fishery managers and power producers to
evaluate the impact of river operations on fish, to plan strategies for
river operations into the twenty-first century, and to evaluate potential
effects of recovery actions for endangered fish species.
Biomaterials Manufacturing
The University of Washington Engineered Biomaterials (UWEB) Center is a
National Science Foundation Engineering Research Center aimed at
developing a new generation of biomaterials. Research in conjunction with
some 29 industrial partners will lead to new manufactured materials for
use in medical implants and drug delivery systems, for example. Research
on the basic biology of healing as well as materials engineering and
manufacturing will lead to new products that are accepted by the body more
readily and that promote the healing process. The interdisciplinary
program, founded in 1996, involves some 25 faculty investigators and may
receive up to $25 million in federal funding over a period of 11 years.
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Faculty in the College of Engineering have pioneered development of a
lightning-fast digital computing system that will enable users of
relatively low-end microcomputers to receive, watch, store, send, and edit
video with CD-quality audio in real time, over any distance, at five times
the resolution of the best conventional TV available today. At the heart
of the high-speed system, called MediaStation 5000, is Texas Instruments'
new Multimedia Video Processor. The technology has been licensed to a
local company that plans to manufacture it for commercial use.
Health Services
With two major medical centers and the only medical school in a five-state
region, the UW plays a critical role in the health care industry in
Washington. It is a major provider of health services and of education and
training for health service professionals in medicine, dentistry,
pharmacy, nursing, and public health.
"The University of Washington is a physical force in the Washington high technology economy. It is, at once, the magnet that draws in the brainpower, the glue that helps hold it together and the magnifier that intensifies and projects the creativity which powers this important engine." --Ed Fritzky, Chairman and CEO, Immunex
Investment in Education
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