Clemson University is a public R1 research university in Clemson, South Carolina, whose commercialization path runs through the Clemson University Research Foundation and a portfolio that already includes active licenses, issued patents, and faculty startups.
Total research and development expenditures reached $368 million in fiscal year 2025, as reported to the NSF HERD survey. That was nearly a 9% increase from the prior year and double the figure reported in 2016. Competitive research awards were $237 million in fiscal year 2024.
Commercialization runs through the Clemson University Research Foundation, an independent affiliated nonprofit. CURF evaluates disclosures, protects intellectual property, markets technologies, and licenses them to companies. In calendar year 2025, Clemson researchers disclosed 85 inventions, earned nine U.S. patents, executed five license agreements, and started 12 companies. CURF reported 120 active licenses and option agreements.
- Tiger Launch
A program for startups and spinouts emerging from Clemson research. Licenses are negotiated to industry terms, with a typical target of a 10- to 15-year agreement. - Technology Maturation Fund
Gap funding to move disclosed technologies toward the market. In collaboration with the South Carolina Research Authority, the fund awarded eight projects totaling more than $200,000 in translational grants. - Translation training
CURF personnel support the NSF Accelerating Research Translation STRIDE grant and NSF I-Corps.
Since 2014, CURF has facilitated 708 disclosures, 603 patents filed, 248 patents issued, and $1.72 million in Technology Maturation Fund investments.
Investors and founders can reach Chris Gesswein, executive director of the Clemson University Research Foundation, through CURF.
Learn more about the Clemson University Research Foundation
Learn more about Clemson University
