You're still assuming way too much (and also over-generalising). Grad students leave their studies all the time, sometimes to start companies based on their wor

You're still assuming way too much (and also over-generalising). Grad students leave their studies all the time, sometimes to start companies based on their work (some of my friends have done this). Others may leave academia and join the workforce and sometimes grad school gives them a pay/status bump and sometimes not (irrespective of whether or not they finished - which indicates 'usual academic channels' don't always matter). I've realised from your final question that you're conflating two different issues. University research likely isn't driven by the desire to make patentable stuff. Looking back earlier in the thread, I think that's the point you're making and I do agree [1]. However, you're mixing it up with the separate discussion of whether (and how) the University should participate in the commercial exploitation of research work, e.g. when someone does want to patent something and make money from it. On that point, it's worth comparing with what happens in industry. Employment contracts can state that anything you end up inventing during your service belongs to your employer [2]. Therefore, is it unreasonable that University, as an employer, would try to assert the same? I'm not making a judgement on this, rather pointing out a view that may be held by others (I suspect it would be an unpopular view in most of my circles and I'm not sure how I feel about it). In any case, that seems to be your main question and I'm sure it's a contentious one for any academic institution (it was at mine). [1] Unless it's funded by pharma companies. I've had friends who can't reveal details of their work until the work is complete and the patent applications are in and the papers have been published (in that order). In all cases, they were partially, or wholly, funded by big pharma companies. [2] http://answers.onstartups.com/questions/19422/if-im-working-at-a-company-do-they-have-intellectual-property-rights-to-the-st http://answers.onstartups.com/questions/19422/if-im-working-...