The Pennsylvania State University, University Park and Hershey: Research to Revenue

The Pennsylvania State University, University Park and Hershey

Summit Venture Studio

Research to Revenue Report

Summit Venture Studio (SVS) Opportunities

SVS has identified 17 commercialization opportunities from The Pennsylvania State University, University Park and Hershey 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 The Pennsylvania State University, University Park and Hershey'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

61/100

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

1967

First Patent

1977

First IPO

N/A

2022-2024

AI-driven drug discovery

2025

Today

Notable Commercialization Outcomes

Nobel Prizes

1951

First Patent

First patent filed by university

1951

Tech Licensing

Established technology licensing office

1970s

Spin-off Founded

Creation of biotech spin-off company

1996

Patent Milestone

Reached 1000 patents granted

2003

Research Park

Opened innovation research park

2010

Competitive Benchmarking

The Pennsylvania State University, University Park and Hershey vs. Peer Research Universities

The Pennsylvania State University, University Park and Hershey vs Peers Comparison

Metric	The Pennsylvania State University, University Park and Hershey (FY2023)	Peer Average	Elite Average
Annual R&D Expenditure	$1,207M	$855M	$1,675M
New Inventions Disclosed	1	200	400
Startups Formed	4	7	10
Visibility Index	13	12	23
Licensing Revenue	$15M	$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 Neurotechnology Innovations Revolutionizing Brain Disorder Treatments

Cutting-edge neurotech from Penn State offers scalable, non-invasive solutions for diagnosing and treating brain disorders, addressing a critical unmet global healthcare need.

2. Sustainable Energy Storage Systems Transforming Renewable Power Integration

Penn State’s novel battery technologies enhance renewable energy storage efficiency, enabling scalable, cost-effective solutions critical for global clean energy transition and grid stability.

3. AI-Driven Precision Agriculture Boosting Crop Yields and Resource Efficiency

Innovative AI platforms optimize farming practices, reducing costs and environmental impact while scaling to meet growing global food demand amid climate challenges.

4. Next-Generation Cancer Therapeutics with Enhanced Targeting and Reduced Side Effects

Penn State develops scalable, targeted cancer treatments improving patient outcomes and addressing significant market demand for safer, more effective oncology therapies.

5. Advanced Materials for Lightweight, High-Strength Aerospace Applications

Breakthrough composite materials from Penn State provide scalable, competitive advantages in aerospace manufacturing by reducing weight and improving fuel efficiency.

6. Cybersecurity Solutions Leveraging Machine Learning for Real-Time Threat Detection

Penn State’s AI-powered cybersecurity tools offer scalable, proactive defense against evolving cyber threats, meeting urgent market needs for enhanced digital security.