California Institute of Technology: Research to Revenue

California Institute of Technology

Summit Venture Studio

Research to Revenue Report

Summit Venture Studio (SVS) Opportunities

SVS has identified 1 commercialization opportunities from California Institute of Technology 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 California Institute of Technology'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

50/100

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

1891

First Nobel

1923

First Patent

1953

First IPO

1997

2022-2024

Quantum computing breakthrough

2025

Today

Notable Commercialization Outcomes

Nobel Prizes

1930

Invention

Jet propulsion patent granted

1930

Discovery

DNA double helix model

1952

Innovation

Recombinant DNA technology developed

1977

Company

Caltech spin-off founded

1980

Patent

CRISPR gene editing patent

1990

Competitive Benchmarking

California Institute of Technology vs. Peer Research Universities

California Institute of Technology vs Peers Comparison

Metric	California Institute of Technology (FY2023)	Peer Average	Elite Average
Annual R&D Expenditure	$491M	$855M	$1,675M
New Inventions Disclosed	1	200	400
Startups Formed	4	7	10
Visibility Index	23	12	23
Licensing Revenue	$20M	$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. Quantum Computing Breakthroughs Enable Ultra-Fast Problem Solving

Caltech’s quantum algorithms tackle complex computations, revolutionizing cryptography and drug discovery with scalable, market-ready technology addressing critical industry bottlenecks.

2. Advanced Photonics for Next-Gen Telecommunications

Caltech’s photonic devices dramatically increase data transmission speeds, offering scalable solutions that meet growing global demand for high-speed internet infrastructure.

3. AI-Driven Materials Design Accelerates Innovation

Caltech’s AI platforms optimize material discovery, reducing development time and costs, providing competitive advantage in multiple industries including aerospace and energy.

4. Sustainable Energy Storage Innovations Transform Power Grids

Caltech’s novel battery technologies improve energy density and lifecycle, addressing global renewable energy storage challenges with scalable, cost-effective solutions.

5. Breakthroughs in Biosensing Technology Enable Early Disease Detection

Caltech’s nanoscale biosensors offer rapid, accurate diagnostics, addressing critical healthcare gaps with scalable, market-ready solutions for global health monitoring.

6. Autonomous Robotics for Precision Agriculture Boost Yield Efficiency

Caltech’s robotic systems optimize farming operations, reducing resource use and increasing crop yields, scalable to meet growing food production demands worldwide.