UNC-Chapel Hill-affiliated startups generated nearly $8 billion in economic impact in North Carolina last year, reflecting significant growth in technology commercialization and entrepreneurship.

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UNC-Chapel Hill-affiliated startups have made substantial contributions to the economy of North Carolina, generating nearly $8 billion in economic impact over the previous year. This impressive figure reflects the success of various commercialization activities related to technology, startup formation, talent development, and entrepreneurship support, as outlined in the University's fiscal year 2025 innovation and economic impact report.

The report, produced by Innovate Carolina and released on October 20, showcases a marked increase in key commercialization metrics, which include invention disclosures, provisional patent applications, issued patents, and new IP-based startups. Notably, each of these metrics saw an increase of over 20% when compared to the previous fiscal year, highlighting the University’s growth in transforming research outputs into tangible economic benefits.

Industry Overview in North Carolina

The innovation landscape in North Carolina is rapidly evolving, driven in part by prominent academic institutions like UNC-Chapel Hill. The state has established itself as a hub for technology and entrepreneurship, marked