Michigan State University: Research to Revenue

Michigan State University

Summit Venture Studio

Research to Revenue Report

Summit Venture Studio (SVS) Opportunities

SVS has identified 40 commercialization opportunities from Michigan 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 Michigan 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

14/100

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

1855

First Nobel

1937

First Patent

1963

First IPO

1993

2022-2024

AI-driven crop optimization

2025

Today

Notable Commercialization Outcomes

Nobel Prizes

1960s

Plant Breeding

Developed superior crop varieties

1960s

Hybrid Corn

Commercialized hybrid seed corn

1980s

Biotech Patents

Filed numerous biotech patents

1990s

AgTech Startups

Launched agriculture tech startups

2000s

Renewable Energy

Advanced bioenergy technologies

2010s

Competitive Benchmarking

Michigan State University vs. Peer Research Universities

Michigan State University vs Peers Comparison

Metric	Michigan State University (FY2023)	Peer Average	Elite Average
Annual R&D Expenditure	$844M	$855M	$1,675M
New Inventions Disclosed	13	200	400
Startups Formed	4	7	10
Visibility Index	19	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 Crop Disease Detection Revolutionizing Sustainable Agriculture

Early AI tech from MSU detects crop diseases, reducing losses and boosting yields, addressing global food security with scalable precision farming solutions.

2. Next-Gen Battery Materials for Longer-Lasting Electric Vehicles

MSU-developed battery innovations improve EV range and lifespan, meeting growing clean transportation demand and enhancing competitive edge in green energy markets.

3. Advanced Water Purification Systems Combat Global Water Scarcity

MSU’s novel filtration technology provides scalable, cost-effective clean water solutions, addressing critical human health and environmental challenges worldwide.

4. Precision Livestock Farming Technologies Enhance Productivity and Sustainability

MSU’s smart animal health monitoring improves farm efficiency and animal welfare, offering scalable solutions for sustainable meat and dairy production.

5. Biodegradable Plastics from Renewable Biomass Reduce Environmental Impact

MSU’s breakthrough bioplastics offer scalable, eco-friendly alternatives to petroleum-based plastics, addressing pollution and supporting circular economy growth.

6. Novel Cancer Immunotherapy Targets Hard-to-Treat Tumors Effectively

MSU’s proprietary immunotherapy platform offers scalable, personalized cancer treatment options, addressing unmet medical needs and improving patient outcomes globally.