According to the Nature Index 2020 Annual Tables, the US leads the world in natural science research with an index of 20,152.48. The largest “investors” in the natural sciences (e.g., biological and medical research, clinical psychology, applied physics) in the United States are the National Institute of Health (NIH), which provides grants of up to $250,000 annually for 5 years for a single study, as well as National Science Foundation (NSF), which in 2009 allocated about 6.4 billion dollars for research. Grants support a huge number of scientists (for example, NIH gives out about 50,000 grants a year).

Of course, various grants are also provided by non-profit organizations: a notable example is the American Heart Association, which allocates about $ 160 million a year.

All research results (and this applies not only to the natural sciences) must be presented at scientific conferences or in articles, which underlines the fact that American scientists are committed to bringing their research to the public. The results obtained can also be protected by patents.

Although the natural sciences are given priority, humanities research (primarily empirical) also attracts a large share of funding. Both the grant system and competitions for its receipt are just one part of the complex mechanism for funding science in the United States.

In view of the fact that the American system of incentives for scientists in America is well developed and structured, the increase in the number of patents and licenses in American universities has a steady upward trend. For example, between 1980 and 2002, their number increased by about 14 times, amounting to 3673. Overall, the US accounts for 25% of all registered patents in the world.
It can be emphasized that income from patents and licenses is a way to replenish the budgets of universities in the United States.

If a discovery receives a patent that has commercial value, a significant part of the income from it is taken by the university where the scientist works. A common method is when the inventor receives a certain share of the remuneration (royalty) due to the university as the owner of the patent. Thus, there is a mutual stimulation of both universities and inventors.

In general, the effect of the licensing activities of universities in the USA is quite high and is a serious argument in favor of the expediency of borrowing experience in this area.