Iowa State University: Research to Revenue

Iowa State University

Summit Venture Studio

Research to Revenue Report

Summit Venture Studio (SVS) Opportunities

SVS has identified 0 commercialization opportunities from Iowa State 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 Iowa State 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

52/100

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

Startup Momentum

8/100

Definition: Growth in patents, funding, and startup formation

Ecosystem Strength

27/100

Definition: Tech transfer infrastructure and support systems

Innovation Legacy

A Timeline of Groundbreaking Discoveries

Innovation Timeline

Founded

1858

First Nobel

1950

First Patent

1953

First IPO

N/A

2022-2024

AI-powered crop optimization

2025

Today

Notable Commercialization Outcomes

Nobel Prizes

1970s

Hybrid Corn

Developed hybrid corn varieties

1970s

Biotechnology Patent

First biotech patent granted

1983

Research Park

Established ISU Research Park

1990s

Startup Launch

Created tech startup incubator

2000s

Renewable Energy

Advanced biofuel technologies

2010

Competitive Benchmarking

Iowa State University vs. Peer Research Universities

Iowa State University vs Peers Comparison

Metric	Iowa State University (FY2023)	Peer Average	Elite Average
Annual R&D Expenditure	$421M	$855M	$1,675M
New Inventions Disclosed	5	200	400
Startups Formed	3	7	10
Visibility Index	13	12	23
Licensing Revenue	$5M	$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. Advanced Crop Genomics Enhancing Sustainable Agriculture Yields

Iowa State's genomic innovations address global food security by improving crop resilience, scalability enabling widespread agricultural adoption and reducing environmental impact significantly.

2. Next-Gen Battery Materials for Efficient Energy Storage

Breakthrough battery materials developed enable longer-lasting, scalable energy storage solutions, addressing critical renewable energy integration and electric vehicle market demands with competitive cost advantages.

3. AI-Driven Precision Livestock Health Monitoring

Innovative AI systems improve livestock health management, reducing disease outbreaks and increasing productivity, scalable across farming operations worldwide, enhancing food safety and supply chain efficiency.

4. Sustainable Bioplastics from Agricultural Waste

Transforming crop residues into biodegradable plastics offers scalable, eco-friendly alternatives to petrochemical plastics, meeting growing market demand for sustainable packaging and reducing environmental pollution.

5. Advanced Water Purification Technologies for Rural Communities

Cutting-edge purification systems provide affordable, scalable clean water solutions, addressing critical health challenges in underserved regions, with competitive advantages in efficiency and operational simplicity.

6. Cybersecurity Solutions Tailored for Critical Infrastructure

Iowa State's novel cybersecurity frameworks protect vital infrastructure from evolving threats, offering scalable, robust defenses crucial for market sectors including energy, transportation, and government systems.