Boston University: Research to Revenue

Boston University

Summit Venture Studio

Research to Revenue Report

Summit Venture Studio (SVS) Opportunities

SVS has identified 11 commercialization opportunities from Boston University and scored them based on our proprietary metrics and rubrics.

The SVS model is to identify the top 1% of commercialization opportunities and start companies around them.

Please connect with SVS if you would like to engage with us in our startup and investment efforts.

Return on Research (ROR) Analysis

Commercialization Revenue per Research Dollar

Top Universities by Return on Research (ROR)

ROI Ratio: Commercialization Revenue ÷ Research Funding

University Innovation Analysis

Total Innovation Scores by Institution

Top Universities by Innovation Score

180+ High Innovation

150-179 Strong Innovation

130-149 Moderate Innovation

100-129 Emerging Innovation

130+ total score considered high innovation impact

SVS Innovation Index

Proprietary Assessment of Boston University's Innovation Ecosystem
Score out of 100. Benchmark: Top 50 U.S. research institutions.
A score of 90/100 can be read "doing better than 90% of schools benchmarked"

Innovation Visibility

28/100

Definition: Media mentions, publication count, and global research visibility metrics

Startup Momentum

8/100

Definition: Growth in patents, funding, and startup formation

Ecosystem Strength

56/100

Definition: Tech transfer infrastructure and support systems

Innovation Legacy

A Timeline of Groundbreaking Discoveries

Innovation Timeline

Founded

1839

First Nobel

1934

First Patent

1929

First IPO

1991

2022-2024

AI-powered diagnostics

2025

Today

Notable Commercialization Outcomes

Nobel Prizes

1990

First Patent

Patent for medical device

1990

Startup Launch

Start of tech startup

2004

License Agreement

Software licensed to industry

2010

Research Breakthrough

Nanotech innovation patented

2015

Spin-off Creation

New biotech company formed

2018

Competitive Benchmarking

Boston University vs. Peer Research Universities

Boston University vs Peers Comparison

Metric	Boston University (FY2023)	Peer Average	Elite Average
Annual R&D Expenditure	$773M	$855M	$1,675M
New Inventions Disclosed	2	200	400
Startups Formed	4	7	10
Visibility Index	12	12	23
Licensing Revenue	$10M	$17M	$46M

Note: Peer Average = Median value among U.S. R1 research universities. Elite Average = Top 10 ranked U.S. research universities.

Emerging Opportunities

1. AI-Driven Cancer Diagnostics Transforming Early Detection

Boston University’s AI models significantly improve early cancer detection accuracy, addressing critical diagnostic delays and enabling scalable, life-saving personalized treatments worldwide.

2. Next-Gen Battery Materials for Sustainable Energy Storage

BU’s novel battery materials enhance energy density and lifespan, tackling renewable energy storage challenges with scalable, cost-effective solutions for electric vehicles and grid applications.

3. Advanced Neurotechnology for Brain-Computer Interfaces

Boston University pioneers neurotech enabling seamless brain-computer interaction, revolutionizing prosthetics and communication for disabled individuals with scalable, high-impact clinical applications.

4. Precision Gene Editing Tools for Rare Diseases

BU’s CRISPR-based platforms offer targeted, efficient gene therapies addressing rare genetic disorders, providing a scalable and competitive edge in personalized medicine markets.

5. Smart Urban Mobility Solutions with Real-Time Analytics

Boston University’s smart mobility systems optimize urban transportation, reducing congestion and emissions, scalable across cities to meet growing urbanization demands globally.

6. Biodegradable Polymers Revolutionizing Packaging Industry

BU’s eco-friendly polymers provide sustainable alternatives to plastics, addressing environmental pollution with scalable manufacturing processes and strong market differentiation.