University of Kansas: Research to Revenue

University of Kansas

Summit Venture Studio

Research to Revenue Report

Summit Venture Studio (SVS) Opportunities

SVS has identified 13 commercialization opportunities from University of Kansas 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 Kansas'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

73/100

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

Startup Momentum

9/100

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

1865

First Nobel

1956

First Patent

1963

First IPO

1991

2022-2024

AI-driven diagnostics

2025

Today

Notable Commercialization Outcomes

Nobel Prizes

1969

Patent Filed

Kansas invented the first laser

1969

Startup Founded

XYLO Technologies launched

1984

License Agreement

Genomics patent licensed globally

1999

Research Breakthrough

Cancer biomarker discovered

2007

Patent Granted

Renewable energy tech patented

2015

Competitive Benchmarking

University of Kansas vs. Peer Research Universities

University of Kansas vs Peers Comparison

Metric	University of Kansas (FY2023)	Peer Average	Elite Average
Annual R&D Expenditure	$466M	$855M	$1,675M
New Inventions Disclosed	1	200	400
Startups Formed	3	7	10
Visibility Index	19	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. AI-Driven Cancer Diagnostics Revolutionizing Early Detection and Treatment

Early cancer detection improves survival; KU’s AI technology offers scalable, accurate diagnostics addressing global healthcare challenges and reducing treatment costs.

2. Advanced Lithium-Ion Battery Materials for Next-Gen Energy Storage

KU’s novel battery materials enhance energy density and lifespan, meeting growing demand for scalable, efficient renewable energy storage and electric vehicle markets.

3. Precision Agriculture Technologies Boosting Crop Yields and Sustainability

KU’s sensor-based systems optimize water and nutrient use, addressing food security with scalable solutions reducing environmental impact and increasing farm profitability.

4. Biodegradable Polymers for Sustainable Packaging Solutions

KU-developed eco-friendly polymers replace plastics, targeting the massive packaging waste problem with scalable, cost-effective materials meeting rising regulatory and consumer demand.

5. Quantum Computing Algorithms Enhancing Cryptography and Data Security

KU’s proprietary quantum algorithms provide scalable, competitive advantages in secure communications, addressing critical cybersecurity threats in financial and governmental sectors.

6. Novel Immunotherapies Targeting Resistant Infectious Diseases

KU’s innovative immunotherapies combat antibiotic-resistant infections, a growing global health crisis, offering scalable treatment options with significant market potential in pharmaceuticals.