Stars and stripes

Your analysis in “Lands of opportunity: transatlantic comparison of university investments in spin-offs” (News, 24 July), stating that US universities invest twice as much in research for each spin-off company created compared with UK institutions, is the wrong way round.

For the quantum invested in research, the UK produces two spin-off companies for every one that the US produces. That is good news. On the other hand, the US produces more licences based on research outcomes than the UK.

We should celebrate our success in creating spin-off companies and look to work more with existing companies to license our intellectual property.

David Sweeney
Director, research, education and knowledge exchange
Higher Education Funding Council for England