Celebrating a Year of Innovative Growth
Northwestern University had a record year for startup creation in FY2026. Eighteen new companies launched from Northwestern IP, double last year’s total. They span therapeutics, medical devices, advanced materials, AI, quantum navigation and more. That momentum is built on a strong foundation. This year brought 309 new invention disclosures, 581 patent filings, 219 patents issued and 286 executed agreements. It also generated $7.5M in licensing revenue, reinvested in research, faculty and IP. At The Querrey InQbation Lab, 25 resident startups have raised more than $109M. Q companies have created 1,483 jobs, and The Q awarded $1.3M in proof-of-concept funding across campus partners. Foundational research at Northwestern keeps moving from lab to market, and we’re positioned to scale the next wave of economic and societal impact.
At its core, the mission of Northwestern University’s Innovation and New Ventures Office (INVO) is straightforward: to catalyze the translation of Northwestern innovations to benefit the public and promote economic growth. But a straightforward mission does not mean simple execution. Achievement and ease, after all, rarely go hand in hand. Read more
Sustainability-minded researchers at Northwestern have a new campus ally in the Trienens-Q Accelerator. A joint effort between Northwestern’s Paula M. Trienens Institute for Sustainability and Energy and the Querrey InQbation Lab, the University’s upstart initiative to translate research-driven innovation, the Trienens-Q Accelerator launched in early 2024. Read more