Other – WARF

What is WARF’s mission/role?

warf_admin — Mon, 17 Aug 2020 21:50:06 +0000

WARF’s role is to steward the cycle of research, discovery, commercialization and investment for UW–Madison and the Morgridge Institute for Research. WARF’s purpose is to promote, encourage and aid scientific investigation and research by UW–Madison faculty, staff and students and by the university-affiliated the Morgridge Institute for Research.

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What is WARF’s relationship with UW-Madison?

warf_admin — Mon, 17 Aug 2020 21:50:21 +0000

WARF is a separate, independent 501(c)3 foundation which serves as the dedicated patenting and licensing organization for UW-Madison. WARF partners with UW-Madison to generate new knowledge and support long-term research opportunities. WARF is not a private foundation, but a 509(a)(3) functionally integrated supporting organization. WARF is governed by an independent board of successful UW-Madison...

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What support does WARF provide to UW-Madison?

warf_admin — Mon, 17 Aug 2020 21:51:06 +0000

In 2016-17, WARF provided more than $131 million of direct and in-kind support to the university. In-kind support includes the cost of the patenting, licensing and commercialization that WARF undertakes and the royalty shares provided to faculty inventors. In-kind support would otherwise be paid by taxpayers if the university operated its own patenting and licensing operation. Since its inception...

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How does WARF help UW-Madison bring in outside funds?

warf_admin — Mon, 17 Aug 2020 21:51:23 +0000

WARF’s decades of partnership have been critical to the university’s ability to attract federal research dollars and maintain its high stature as a research university. WARF’s support is one reason why a university in a state of only five million people has consistently been ranked among the top tier research universities in the world. Funding by WARF allows researchers to undertake very early...

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How does WARF support entrepreneurial activity?

warf_admin — Mon, 17 Aug 2020 21:52:03 +0000

Through direct investments and local partnerships, WARF is committed to contributing to an ecosystem that helps move technologies from the university to the marketplace. WARF has licensed over 125 faculty startup companies since 1993 and directly invested almost $40 million in a subset of those companies.

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Why does WARF maintain an investment portfolio?

warf_admin — Mon, 17 Aug 2020 21:52:54 +0000

WARF’s investment portfolio was created in the 1920s not only to support research for current and future generations but also to fund the patenting, licensing and commercialization expenses of the foundation. The investment portfolio is managed for present and future needs in alignment with WARF’s mission and consistent with modern practices of similarly sized endowments.

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Does WARF have any relationship with other UW campuses?

warf_admin — Mon, 17 Aug 2020 21:53:23 +0000

WARF works only with UW-Madison. However, in 2000 WARF formed WiSys, which is an independent technology transfer organization that supports all University of Wisconsin System schools, except for UW-Madison and UW-Milwaukee. WARF provides limited financial support and back office services to WiSys, but is otherwise a separate entity.

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Are faculty, staff and students required to assign inventions to WARF?

warf_admin — Mon, 17 Aug 2020 21:53:09 +0000

UW-Madison faculty, staff and students are not obligated to assign their intellectual property to WARF, unless required to do so by federal law or the terms of a sponsored research agreement with a third party. Most technologies/products cost WARF more money to bring to market than they recoup through licensing, which explains why most inventor groups seek WARF’s professional assistance.

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How does WARF generate its revenue?

warf_admin — Mon, 17 Aug 2020 21:53:36 +0000

WARF generates revenue from licensing royalties and investment management. WARF distributes 35 percent of its licensing revenue before expenses to stakeholders. For those inventors who partner with WARF, 20 percent of the gross revenues received from the licensing of their intellectual property is directed back to the inventors. An additional 15 percent of gross revenues is directed to their...

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How has WARF been recognized for its efforts?

warf_admin — Mon, 17 Aug 2020 21:53:55 +0000

In 2005, WARF received the National Medal of Technology from President G.W. Bush. This is the highest honor the President can bestow on an individual or organization who has made significant contributions to technology development. WARF received the medal for its legacy, its partnership with the university and industry and its role in federal legislation that permits universities or their patent...

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