Technology facts

One of the important products of our research, and an essential component for making our economy stronger, is our intellectual property -- faculty discoveries that the university can license to individuals or businesses who develop goods and services to sell as a result.

Fact: Technologies licensed to Iowa companies (not including germplasm) resulted in sales of $22 million in 2004.

Fact: 78 companies have formed over the last two decades due to Iowa State technologies and/or technical expertise.

Fact: The 139 companies and research centers affiliated with ISU Research Park employ nearly 1,500 worldwide.

Fact: A recent survey showed that Iowa State ranks among the nation's top universities in the generation of intellectual property.

Fact: Among all universities, we rank 1st in licenses and options executed, 3rd in licenses and options yielding income, and 33rd in new patents issued.

Fact: Among the 57 research universities in the national survey that do not have medical schools and hospitals, Iowa State ranks:

• 1st in licenses and options executed,
• 1st in licenses and options yielding income,
• 4th in patents awarded,
• 5th in patent applications, and
• 6th in the number of start-up companies formed.

These numbers are truly great, but where Iowa State really shines is in the ability of our faculty, staff, and students to put this intellectual property to work, which is one of the special expectations of a land-grant university and an important measure of our excellence.

Fact: One indicator we often talk about in terms of putting research to work is the R&D 100 Award. This award is presented annually by R&D magazine to the top 100 technological innovations of the year, with special weight given to their commercial potential. It has been presented for 35 years, and it is highly coveted by industry and more recently by research universities. The Chicago Tribune described them as the "Oscars of Applied Science." Since 1984, Iowa State faculty and staff have received more of these awards than any university except MIT.

Alumni in Iowa

Technologies

Programs