University of Colorado Boulder: Research to Revenue

University of Colorado Boulder

Summit Venture Studio

Research to Revenue Report

Summit Venture Studio (SVS) Opportunities

SVS has identified 18 commercialization opportunities from University of Colorado Boulder 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 University of Colorado Boulder'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

70/100

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

Startup Momentum

8/100

Definition: Growth in patents, funding, and startup formation

Ecosystem Strength

65/100

Definition: Tech transfer infrastructure and support systems

Innovation Legacy

A Timeline of Groundbreaking Discoveries

Innovation Timeline

Founded

1876

First Nobel

1956

First Patent

1967

First IPO

2007

2022-2024

Quantum computing breakthrough

2025

Today

Notable Commercialization Outcomes

Nobel Prizes

1970s

First Patent

Graphene synthesis patent granted

1970s

Spin-off Founded

Nanotech startup launched

1990s

Drug Discovery

New pharmaceutical licensed

2000s

Energy Innovation

Solar tech commercialization

2010s

AI Development

Machine learning tool patented

2015

Competitive Benchmarking

University of Colorado Boulder vs. Peer Research Universities

University of Colorado Boulder vs Peers Comparison

Metric	University of Colorado Boulder (FY2023)	Peer Average	Elite Average
Annual R&D Expenditure	$652M	$855M	$1,675M
New Inventions Disclosed	2	200	400
Startups Formed	5	7	10
Visibility Index	5	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. Quantum Computing Innovations Driving Next-Gen Secure Communications

Revolutionizing data security with scalable quantum encryption, addressing cybersecurity threats worth billions in a rapidly digitalizing global economy.

2. Advanced Battery Materials for Sustainable Energy Storage

Enabling longer-lasting, cost-effective batteries critical for renewable energy adoption and electric vehicle market expansion worldwide.

3. AI-Driven Climate Modeling Solutions for Environmental Risk Management

Providing accurate, scalable climate predictions to mitigate disaster impacts and support global sustainability initiatives.

4. High-Performance Photonics for Telecommunications and Data Centers

Delivering faster, energy-efficient data transmission, meeting exponential demand in cloud computing and 5G infrastructure markets.

5. Biodegradable Polymers Transforming Packaging Industry Sustainability

Offering eco-friendly alternatives to plastics, reducing pollution and meeting growing regulatory and consumer demand globally.

6. Neuroscience-Based Cognitive Enhancement Technologies for Healthcare

Developing scalable brain health interventions addressing rising neurodegenerative diseases and mental health challenges worldwide.