Universities are stepping up efforts to create “spinouts,” or business startups born from some of the cutting-edge research of their students or faculty.

Some schools are creating funds that help cover startup costs. Others are pairing scientists with entrepreneurs, launching incubators, or programs to foster business development, and even including entrepreneurial activity in their reviews of faculty.

Image: Alan Mickelson, a professor at the University of Colorado, brought on an entrepreneur to be the CEO of a spinout based on his optical communications technology research. MATT NAGER FOR THE WALL STREET JOURNAL