Comments about ‘University of Utah boasts 23 new companies over past year’

This is not something to celebrate. While it would be just fine for the U to create 23 new companies in a prosperous economic time, it is unconscionable for the U to be spending its money during a time of economic crisis when university employees are being laid off. The unemployed and their families do not benefit from this program.

I think the emphasis on company building at Universities completely takes away from the primary purpose of higher institutions which is to educate, and contribute to the betterment of society. While there is no question that a discovery can lead to a cure for a disease, the time spent by the academician getting the company going takes away from the next generation

Are you kidding? This DIRECTLY helps the students, the faculty, the state and the generation of new ideas. You people have no idea what your talking about. The "payoff" of billions of reasearch dollars is just this, new jobs, new technologies from new companies.

Of course, this IS something to celebrate. Just like "Duh" said, the U is creating new jobs, new technologies, and making life better for everyone. It brings revenue to the school and is good news for students, etc. etc.

In fact, U students are learning by DOING. They are directly involved in these commercialization activities. Students get hands-on, real-world experience, along with being enriched through their studies. They become entrepreneurs and contributors to society. It's a win-win anyway you slice it.