Blumenthal D, Epstein S, Maxwell J
N Engl J Med. 1986 Jun 19;314(25):1621-6. doi: 10.1056/NEJM198606193142506.
Universities that are now seeking ways to capture the financial rewards of advances made in biotechnology and other fields on their campuses have been encouraged by the apparent success of previous efforts to benefit from the commercial application of research findings by obtaining patents and granting licenses. Notable among these efforts is the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF). A close examination of the experience of this foundation reveals that, with good fortune and good management, a patenting and licensing organization can enjoy financial success. It also indicates, however, that the success experienced by WARF would be difficult to achieve today and that such efforts may yield lower financial returns than university administrators expect. Universities should be aware that such ventures entail financial risks and pose potential threats to traditional university values.
目前，一些大学正在寻求途径，以获取本校生物技术及其他领域所取得进展带来的经济回报。此前通过获取专利和授予许可从研究成果的商业应用中获益的努力取得了显著成功，这激励了这些大学。其中值得注意的是威斯康星校友研究基金会（WARF）。对该基金会经历的仔细审视表明，凭借好运和良好管理，一个专利与许可组织能够获得经济上的成功。然而，这也表明，WARF所取得的成功如今难以复制，而且此类努力可能产生的经济回报低于大学管理者的预期。大学应该意识到，此类商业活动存在财务风险，并对传统大学价值观构成潜在威胁。
