USC Stevens Institute for Innovation

What USC Stevens Institute for Innovation does

The USC Stevens Center for Innovation is the centralized technology transfer office of the University of Southern California, founded in 2004 through a $22 million gift from Mark and Mary Stevens and headquartered at USC's University Park Campus in Los Angeles. The center manages the full lifecycle of intellectual property arising from USC's approximately $1 billion in annual research expenditures — covering invention disclosure intake, patent prosecution (800+ issued active U.S. patents), copyright protection, technology marketing, licensing negotiation (300+ active licenses), and startup formation support. Its portfolio spans life sciences, therapeutics, medical devices, diagnostics, advanced materials, AI/analytics, and sustainability technologies.

The center operates an integrated commercialization pathway for USC researchers and innovators: Stevens Translation Catalyst Awards provide up to $50,000 per project for proof-of-concept validation; NSF I-Corps Hub West delivers customer discovery training; the USC-Techstars University Catalyst pre-accelerator supports up to 20 startups annually through masterclasses and mentoring; and the Startup Launch Agreement (2026) provides equity-based licensing for early-stage software and know-how. Distribution occurs through direct enterprise licensing (e.g., Ellison Medical Institute for prostate cancer therapeutics, Daikin Applied Americas for CO2 adsorbent HVAC technology), the 15-university University Technology Licensing Program consortium, and equity stakes in spinouts such as CommonGround Labs, CelluXo, PebRx, and Athelas. Cumulative commercialization revenue totaled $23.5M over the five years through FY25, supplemented by long-tail equity value creation across 50+ spun-out startups that have collectively raised $500+ million in VC funding and produced four IPOs.

The center is led by Executive Director Dr. Erin Overstreet, with Donaldson Santos as Director of Licensing and New Ventures and Rosemary Kiser as Director of Technology Licensing. It operates as an internal office of the private University of Southern California and does not raise independent funding; however, a landmark $200 million gift from the Stevens family in 2025 renamed the USC School of Advanced Computing as the USC Mark and Mary Stevens School of Computing and Artificial Intelligence, materially expanding the upstream AI research pipeline the center will eventually commercialize.

Name

USC Stevens Institute for Innovation

Legal name

USC Stevens Center for Innovation

Website

https://stevens.usc.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

USC Stevens Center for Innovation is the University of Southern California's centralized technology transfer office, managing 800+ patents, 300+ active licenses, and startup formation across USC's approximately $1 billion in annual research expenditures.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Technology Transfer Services

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (54171), Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) (541715)

SIC

Patent Owners & Lessors (6794), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

IP Licensing, Transactions & Technology Transfer (BPAHAMAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Technology Transfer & Innovation-Driven Research Universities (High Commercialization) (EDAHABAH), Technical Universities with Entrepreneurship & Incubation Focus (EDAHAEAH), Technical Universities with Strong Industry Partnerships (EDAHAEAG)

Keywords

• Technology transfer services
• University IP licensing
• Patent protection services
• Proof of concept funding
• Startup formation support

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. IP Licensing Revenue: Licensing university-owned intellectual property to industry partners for commercialization. Net revenue is shared with university inventors per USC IP Policy. $23.5M in commercialization revenue generated over the last 5 years through FY25.
2. Startup Equity: USC takes equity positions in startup companies formed around licensed technology through the Startup Launch Agreement framework, aligning long-term incentives without overburdening early-stage companies.
3. Proof of Concept Grants: The Stevens Translation Catalyst program provides investment (up to $50,000 per project) to advance USC-owned intellectual property toward commercialization readiness, with funds for prototype development, validation studies, and translational activities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

USC Stevens Center for Innovation is the centralized technology transfer office of the University of Southern California, managing intellectual property protection, technology marketing, licensing, and startup formation for innovations emerging from USC's approximately $1 billion in annual research expenditures. The center manages 800+ issued active U.S. patents and 300+ active licenses, generating $23.5M in commercialization revenue over the last 5 years through FY25. It offers an end-to-end pathway from invention disclosure through IP protection, proof-of-concept funding (Stevens Translation Catalyst Awards of up to $50,000 per project), industry licensing, and startup formation via the Startup Launch Agreement framework.

Product overview

USC Stevens Center for Innovation serves as USC's centralized technology transfer office, managing the university's intellectual property portfolio from approximately $1 billion in annual research expenditures. The organization offers a comprehensive suite of services including technology licensing, patent and IP protection, proof of concept funding through the Stevens Translation Catalyst Awards (up to $50,000 per project), and startup formation support via the Startup Launch Agreement framework. The portfolio spans over 300 active licenses, 800+ issued active U.S. patents, and has generated $23.5 million in commercialization revenue over the past five years. Key technologies include medical devices, diagnostics, therapeutics, AI/machine learning platforms, and advanced materials. Notable funded technologies include Bilisense for jaundice screening, non-invasive cardiac measurement software, and multiple oncology platforms. Spinout companies include CommonGround Labs (predictive analytics for risk assessment), CelluXo (cancer peptide therapeutics), and Athelas (blood diagnostics, FDA-cleared, $1.5B valuation). The center also facilitates industry partnerships and licenses technologies to major companies including Daikin Applied and Ellison Medical Institute.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Technology Licensing Services

Quantifiable outcome

• $23.5M in commercialization revenue generated over the last 5 years through FY25
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability11 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship, supporting and minor.

• TechstarscoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 12 February 2026USC and Techstars collaborate on multiple programs: the USC and Techstars University Catalyst pre-accelerator (a 10-week, part-time, primarily virtual program supporting up to 20 startups annually with masterclasses, pitch coaching, and 1:1 mentoring from September through November), and USC and Techstars Startup Weekend (a 3-day event building the USC startup community). Programs are supported by USC's Office of Research and Innovation.
• Daikin Applied AmericasflagshipOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 25 November 2025Daikin Applied Americas licensed USC's groundbreaking regenerative CO2 adsorbent technology developed at the Loker Hydrocarbon Research Institute by Nobel Laureate George Olah and team. Daikin also acquired exclusive rights to Sorbent Ventilation Technology (SVT) from enVerid Systems Inc. (USC's original commercialization partner) and is integrating the technology into next-generation HVAC solutions for energy-efficient buildings globally. This marks the transition from early university development through a small commercial venture to a global manufacturer.
• Ellison Medical InstituteflagshipOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 17 April 2025USC entered into an exclusive licensing agreement with the Ellison Medical Institute (EMI) for the rights to develop and commercialize a novel therapeutic drug for prostate cancer treatment. Beginning in 2019, Chemistry Professor Charles McKenna and EMI Founding CEO Dr. David Agus created a joint research project identifying small molecule androgen receptor modulators. EMI was initially established at USC with Larry Ellison's support and has evolved into an independent research institute. USC Stevens facilitated this agreement to enable rapid advancement of life-changing therapies.
• University Technology Licensing Program (UTLP)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 12 February 2021USC joined a coalition of 15 leading research universities (USC, Brown, Caltech, Columbia, Cornell, Harvard, Illinois, Michigan, Northwestern, Penn, Princeton, SUNY Binghamton, UC Berkeley, UCLA, and Yale) forming a limited liability corporation that bundles licensable technologies from multiple institutions into a unified marketplace for companies. UTLP received a favorable business review letter from the U.S. Department of Justice.
• Larta InstitutesupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerLarta Institute collaborates with USC at innovation events and programs, including the Venture & Innovation Summit hosted by USC, providing support for the university's role in Southern California's tech and startup ecosystem.
• enVerid Systems Inc.minorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerenVerid Systems Inc. was USC's original partner in commercializing the university's CO2 adsorbent technology. Daikin Applied acquired exclusive rights to SVT from enVerid, representing a transition of the technology to a global HVAC manufacturer with broader deployment capability.
• AmgensupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerAmgen, a Thousand Oaks-based biopharmaceutical company, served as the gold sponsor of the USC Venture & Innovation Summit and previewed an upcoming joint accelerator program with USC.
• NSF I-CorpscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUSC hosts the I-Corps Hub West, a partnership with 10 top research universities across the Western United States, providing experiential education and regional ecosystem support for deep technology startups. CommonGround Labs participated in USC's NSF I-Corps, which led to acceptance into the National NSF I-Corps Program where they received a $50,000 grant supporting 100+ customer interviews nationwide.
• Viterbi Technology Innovation & Entrepreneurship (TIE) HubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdministered by Viterbi School of Engineering, TIE Hub offers the Technology Innovation Fellowship supporting researchers developing technically sophisticated innovations with clear commercialization potential through structured mentorship, milestone-driven development, and translational guidance. Abel Salinas of CommonGround Labs was selected as an inaugural Technology Innovation Fellow.
• CommonGround LabscoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerCommonGround Labs is the inaugural company under USC's Startup Launch Agreement, a framework designed for early-stage software and know-how licensing where USC licenses IP to the startup in exchange for a small equity position. The company uses advanced analytics and machine learning to help mining and energy operators anticipate community responses. It was also selected for DARPA's Embedded Entrepreneur Initiative.
• CelluXocoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerCelluXo is a startup formed to commercialize a first-in-class cancer therapy derived from human beta defensin-1 that physically ruptures cancer cell membranes. The company received Stevens Translation Catalyst Award funding for optimization, stability studies, and in vivo validation.
• PebRxcoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerPebRx is a startup advancing a novel PET imaging tracer for early Alzheimer's disease detection through disruption in brain lipid metabolism. IND submission is the next major milestone. The company received Stevens Translation Catalyst Award funding for regulatory documentation and IND preparation.
• Regenerative Patch TechnologiesflagshipOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerUSC-supported startup Regenerative Patch Technologies was awarded approximately $12.4 million from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) for clinical trial of a promising eye treatment. The company was a past winner of the USC Stevens Student Innovator Showcase.
• National Academy of Inventors (NAI)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerUSC served as the host institution for the NAI 15th Annual Conference (June 1-4, 2026), welcoming 500+ attendees from 200 institutions. The conference celebrated invention, technology commercialization, and the transformative impact of research on society. Mark Stevens received the inaugural NAI Innovation Philanthropy Award.
• Tempus AIcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Keck School of Medicine of USC and Keck Medicine of USC launched a strategic collaboration with Tempus AI to integrate clinical care, clinical trials, and research through AI-powered precision medicine technologies.
• Cedars-Sinai Medical CentersupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner institution in the THEIA eye transplant research project alongside USC Roski Eye Institute, University of Colorado, Foundation Fighting Blindness, Indiana University, Johns Hopkins University, National Eye Institute, and University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Columbia Technology Ventures: Columbia's TTO manages IP licensing and startup formation across engineering, medical, and basic science research. Direct TTO peer and fellow UTLP consortium member.
• Yale Office of Cooperative Research: Yale's TTO manages invention disclosure, patenting, and commercialization for a leading research university. Direct peer to USC Stevens and fellow UTLP consortium member with comparable scope across life sciences and physical sciences.
• Harvard Office of Technology Development (OTD): Harvard's TTO manages IP commercialization across Harvard's schools and affiliated hospitals. Structural peer to USC Stevens with comparable scope across life sciences, computing, and engineering.
• Caltech Office of Technology Transfer: Caltech's TTO manages invention disclosures, patenting, and licensing for a research-intensive STEM university. Direct peer to USC Stevens in the UTLP consortium and a comparable technology transfer counterpart.
• MIT Technology Licensing Office (TLO): MIT's TLO handles invention disclosure, patenting, and licensing of MIT-owned IP across engineering, life sciences, and computing. Directly comparable to USC Stevens in serving a large STEM-heavy research base with active spinout formation.
• Stanford Office of Technology Licensing (OTL): Stanford's centralized TTO managing patent prosecution, licensing, and startup formation for one of the world's leading research universities. Direct structural peer to USC Stevens with deeper commercialization track record and similar industry partnership model.
• Penn Center for Innovation: University of Pennsylvania's TTO handles invention disclosure, patenting, and commercialization for a leading research university with a major medical center. Direct peer to USC Stevens and fellow UTLP consortium member.
• Johns Hopkins Technology Ventures: Johns Hopkins' technology transfer office manages IP and startup formation for one of the largest U.S. research enterprises. Comparable peer given similar scale of research expenditures and breadth of life sciences and engineering IP.
• UCLA Technology Development Group: UCLA's TTO manages IP commercialization for a major public research university in Los Angeles. Direct peer to USC Stevens, fellow UTLP consortium member, and a regional competitor for industry licensing partnerships and LA-area talent.
• UC Berkeley IPIRA: UC Berkeley's Office of Intellectual Property & Industry Research Alliances manages IP and industry-sponsored research for a leading public research university. Direct TTO peer also co-participating in the UTLP consortium with USC.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/USCStevens
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/usc-stevens-center-for-innovation
• Instagraminstagram.com/uscstevens
• Facebookfacebook.com/uscstevens

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about USC Stevens Institute for Innovation