By the Numbers

Success Through Partnerships

Launched in 2015, Invent Penn State spurs economic development, job creation, and student career success by blending entrepreneurship-focused academic programs, business startup training and incubation, funding for commercialization, and university/community/industry collaborations that facilitate the process of turning research discoveries into valuable products and services. Below you can find research, tech transfer, industry partnerships, and LaunchBox & Innovation Network activity and outcomes data from the start of the initiative through 2022.

*Two types of startup activity are reflected below–research-based tech transfer and community innovation space activity

 

Tech Transfer

Interdisciplinary Research Prowess

Penn State’s longstanding investment in its interdisciplinary research institutes has created a University-wide culture of collaboration that differentiates Penn State’s research enterprise from its peers and enables us to address our world’s most difficult challenges.

*Research expenditures reported on a fiscal year basis, July-June

 

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Research Expenditures
Since 2015, Penn State has eclipsed $6.6 billion in research expenditures. More than 5,200 researchers work across colleges, institutes, and disciplines.
2015-16 $836M
2016-17 $863M
2017-18 $921M
2018-19 $968M
2019-20 $1.01B
2020 - 21 $993.1M
2021 - 22 $1.034B
Total $6.625 Billion
Technology Transfer
From patents and licenses issued to affiliated startup licenses granted, Penn State is rapidly growing and advancing its technology transfer pipeline.

*The Penn State research and tech transfer data on this page was provided by the Office of Technology Management.
Patents Issued Licenses & Options Startup Licenses & Options
2015 37 22 9
2016 41 20 5
2017 64 32 10
2018 48 15 7
2019 57 7 2
2020 50 14 4
2021 47 15 1
Total 344 125 38
Industry Research Projects
Penn State engages in hundreds of industry projects across a wide variety of industry sectors each year.
Average per Year 500
LaunchBox & Innovation Network (FY 2015-21)

Driving Entrepreneurial Success

Invent Penn State provided seed grant funding for 21 downtown innovation spaces, including 19 LaunchBoxes, offering resources like coworking space, accelerator programs, legal and IP advice, and rapid prototyping—all free to the community, and all driving innovation and economic growth.

View the Network

Assisting Entrepreneurs
Through accelerator programs, legal clinics and other services, the LaunchBox & Innovation Network reaches thousands of student, faculty and community entrepreneurs.
Entrepreneurs Assisted 5,979
Faculty and Students Engaged 16,964
Ventures Received Legal and IP Advice 3,544
New Startups and Products
Accelerator programs like “Idea TestLab” and “FastTrack Accelerator” supported new business startups, and high-tech makerspaces supported new product development projects.
Startup Program Graduates 626
Product Development Projects 431
Completed Product Development Projects 298
Job Creation
Accelerator programs, no-cost legal and IP advice, and connections to pitch competitions and other funding sources speed the formation of companies, valuable internships, and new jobs.
Internships Created 531
New PA Companies 278
Jobs Created 403
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