TUCSON, Ariz. (KVOA) – The University of Arizona has reached a new milestone in turning research breakthroughs into real-world solutions that can benefit society and boost the economy.
Between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026, university innovators submitted 372 invention disclosures to Tech Launch Arizona, according to the institution. This marks the highest number in the university’s history and represents a nearly 15% jump from the previous year’s total of 324.
During that same timeframe, the university’s commercialization office completed 88 licenses and options, received 96 issued patents and helped establish 11 new startups based on university innovations. These metrics illustrate the various ways university discoveries move from the lab toward public use, official said.
The University of Arizona has reached a new milestone in turning research breakthroughs into real-world solutions that can benefit society and boost the economy.
“Each invention disclosure begins with someone here at the university seeking to address a challenge or answer an important question,” Doug Hockstad, chief innovation officer and executive director of Tech Launch Arizona, said.
Hockstad emphasized that while the numbers are significant, they represent individual stories of discoveries advancing toward practical applications.
The 11 new startups are developing innovations ranging from peptides for skin health to a virtual reality system for surgical training to a room-temperature quantum computing platform. ProxyBio, one university startup, announced a $3.5 million funding round to expand its artificial intelligence-powered organoid platform for predicting cancer drug response.
Tech Launch Arizona has launched more than 160 companies, with 71% still active or acquired, officials said. Since 2015, university startups have collectively raised more than $1.1 billion in funding, according to Tech Launch Arizona records.
An independent economic impact analysis released in April found that Tech Launch Arizona and related activities generated $459.7 million in economic output, supported 3,070 jobs and produced $16.8 million in state and local tax revenues during fiscal year 2025. The analysis forecasts an additional $2.46 billion in economic output and support for more than 16,000 job-years over the next five years.
“Our mission is to translate breakthrough research into solutions that improve lives, strengthen our economy and address society’s most pressing challenges,” Tomás Díaz de la Rubia, senior vice president for research and partnerships, said.
Díaz de la Rubia said the results demonstrate the power of an innovation ecosystem where researchers, entrepreneurs, industry, and community partners collaborate.