NorthWest Biotherapeutics Inc (NWBO)

[seekinganswers]

Already in business!!! UCLA can't completely "go into business for themselves" as a publicly funded university. They can and do generate revenue via licensing, royalties and some equity in start up companies using their technology/ IP. NWBO was probably the worst partnership they ever entered. 25 years, no profit.

Limitations and Oversight - Public institution constraints: As a state-funded entity, UCLA must align activities with its educational mission and UC policies. Revenue from "unrelated" businesses (e.g., non-educational sales) is taxable under UBIT, and all deals require approval to avoid conflicts (e.g., with federal grants).
Revenue sharing: Inventors get 35% of net royalties (per UC Patent Policy), with the rest split among labs, departments, and the university for research/discretionary use.

No full "for-profit" pivot: UCLA can't abandon its core academic role to become a pure business, but it can (and does) hybridize through these channels to fund operations amid declining state support.
In summary, UCLA goes well "into business" via proactive commercialization, investments, and spin-offs—royalties are just one tool in a broader entrepreneurial toolkit. This model has helped UC campuses generate hundreds of millions in IP-related income system-wide, fueling research and startups.