UNC-Chapel Hill-affiliated startups and commercialization activities generated nearly $8 billion in economic impact across North Carolina over the past year, according to the University’s fiscal year 2025 innovation and economic impact report.
The report, produced by Innovate Carolina and released Oct. 20, highlights major achievements in technology commercialization, startup formation, talent development and entrepreneurship support. Four core commercialization metrics — invention disclosures, provisional patent applications, issued U.S. patents and IP-based startup launches — each increased by more than 20% compared to fiscal year 2024. The release coincides with University Research Week, an annual campus-wide event underscoring Carolina’s growing strength in translating research into real-world impact.
“As the volume of foundational research and number of valuable ideas at the University grow, we’ve built a strategy for translating more of the inventive thinking and discoveries that emerge from our labs and classrooms into products, services and companies that make a tangible impact for the people and economy of North Carolina,” said Dedric A. Carter, vice chancellor for innovation, entrepreneurship and economic development and chief innovation officer at UNC-Chapel Hill.
Full story: UNC-Chapel Hill startups create $8 billion in yearly economic impact | UNC-Chapel Hill
