UTRF promotes the commercialization of UT intellectual property and encourages an entrepreneurial culture.
The University of Tennessee Research Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that promotes the commercialization of UT intellectual property, encourages an entrepreneurial culture, contributes to state and regional economic development, and promotes research and education to benefit the people of Tennessee and beyond.
UTRF works to help move ideas to the marketplace. While UTRF is a separate entity from UT, it provides assistance and resources to the research activities of faculty, staff, and students across the UT System, which is comprised of campuses at Knoxville, Chattanooga, Pulaski, and Martin; the Health Science Center at Memphis; and the statewide Institute of Agriculture and Institute for Public Service.
UTRF Details
UTRF is authorized to form and participate in Tennessee legal entities, in order to promote and carry out UT’s research-generated technology. It’s not an agency, department or arm of the state. UTRF may contract for services of UT employees.
UTRF History
Originally created in 1935 as the UT Research Corporation, and reorganized in 2003 as the UT Research Foundation, the organization has expanded from primarily promoting agricultural inventions in the 1930s to a broad range of modern research, including biology, chemistry, pharmaceuticals and alternative energy.
Board of Directors and Officers
UTRF’s current Board of Directors and Officers.
Annual Report
Reporting information for the fiscal year.
Student Opportunities
UTRF provides students the opportunity to assist our technology managers in commercializing UT inventions as a Commercialization Analyst, serve as a legal extern alongside our staff attorney, or learn with UTRF as part of a pharmacy student rotation.
U.S. Patents Recently Issued
A list of recently issued UTRF U.S. patents.
Projects & Partners
In addition to our traditional work in intellectual property licensing, UTRF also serves as the umbrella organization for a variety of additional projects that add to our overall economic development efforts.