WARF
A nonprofit university technology-transfer and investment organization that manages intellectual property, commercialization, accelerator programs, and an investment portfolio to fund research at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and affiliated institutes. The organization provides patenting and licensing services, runs accelerator and venture programs to advance prototypes toward commercial partners or startups, and distributes recurring grants and fellowship funding to support campus research.
Industries
N/A
Nr. of Employees
small (1-50)
WARF
UW-Madison Campus, 614 Walnut Street, 13th Floor, Madison, WI 53726
Products
Discovery Building (facility partnership and transfer)
Participation in development and transfer of an interdisciplinary research facility to campus partners; involved capital and operational support for the building.
Accelerator pipeline newsletters
Regular communications that showcase emerging technologies, program updates and commercialization outcomes to stakeholders.
Discovery Building (facility partnership and transfer)
Participation in development and transfer of an interdisciplinary research facility to campus partners; involved capital and operational support for the building.
Accelerator pipeline newsletters
Regular communications that showcase emerging technologies, program updates and commercialization outcomes to stakeholders.
Services
Institutional patent filing, prosecution oversight, licensing negotiations and inventor advisory.
Targeted prototyping funding, mentor support, commercialization coaching and investor introductions for early-stage technologies.
Equity and venture support services focused on enabling startups and advancing pharmaceutical/biotech opportunities to partnerships or exits.
Annual grant distribution, strategic initiative funding, faculty fellowships, graduate student support and matching grants to the university.
Institutional patent filing, prosecution oversight, licensing negotiations and inventor advisory.
Targeted prototyping funding, mentor support, commercialization coaching and investor introductions for early-stage technologies.
Equity and venture support services focused on enabling startups and advancing pharmaceutical/biotech opportunities to partnerships or exits.
Annual grant distribution, strategic initiative funding, faculty fellowships, graduate student support and matching grants to the university.
Expertise Areas
- Technology transfer and commercialization
- Intellectual property management
- University–industry partnerships
- Accelerator-based prototyping and early-stage funding
Key Technologies
- Target-guided peptide synthesis for drug discovery
- Biomass-derived diols chemical production (bio-based chemical precursors)
- Antifouling polymer coatings for biomedical devices
- Point-cloud rendering and visualization techniques for VR/AR
News & Updates
An innovation showcase and networking event bringing together researchers, industry, investors and the public to present commercial-ready technologies and quick-pitch demonstrations.
Announcement of a $206.9M commitment covering annual support and grants for UW-Madison research as part of centennial activities.
Preview article describing finalists and prizes for WARF Innovation Awards.
Reported count of active issued U.S. patents managed or associated with the organization.
Reported cumulative inflation-adjusted grant funding since inception (figures reported on site: approximately $4.5–4.6 billion).
Reported portfolio value used to fund grants and operations: $3.29 billion (as of June 30, 2025).
An innovation showcase and networking event bringing together researchers, industry, investors and the public to present commercial-ready technologies and quick-pitch demonstrations.
Announcement of a $206.9M commitment covering annual support and grants for UW-Madison research as part of centennial activities.
Preview article describing finalists and prizes for WARF Innovation Awards.
Reported count of active issued U.S. patents managed or associated with the organization.
Reported cumulative inflation-adjusted grant funding since inception (figures reported on site: approximately $4.5–4.6 billion).
Reported portfolio value used to fund grants and operations: $3.29 billion (as of June 30, 2025).