Advancing Impactful Research

We advance world-class research and innovation that betters the lives of people regionally and beyond.

The scale of our impact is far-reaching—we are leading research efforts with the potential to transform lives, translating it to real-world application, building infrastructure that empowers researchers to address pressing regional and global challenges, and developing cutting-edge tools to accelerate discovery.

Stanford Research by the Numbers

US patents based on federally-funded Stanford research

3K+

Translating Research to Real-World Applications

Launched in 2022 by the Office of Technology Licensing, Stanford’s High Impact Technology Fund accelerates the transition of impactful technologies toward real-world applications that enhance the lives of individuals every day and has supported 45 research teams in developing market-ready solutions to sustainability and health challenges.

A man walks while wearing a knee brace — Credit: Stanford University

A woman in a lab working with DNA — Credit: Stanford University

Applying Research to Regional and Global Policy Issues

Our students and faculty collaborate across departments and with partners around the world to transform academic research into cross-disciplinary solutions for communities across the region, through faculty-led centers, labs, and initiatives.

John W. Gardner Center for Youth and Their Communities

Graduate School of Education

Leveraging community-based research and partnerships to advance the well-being and futures of young people

Stanford Impact Labs

School of Humanities & Sciences

Training and investing in teams of scholars working with government, business, and nonprofit leaders to address social issues

Empowering Researchers Making Global Impacts

Operated by Stanford for the U.S. Department of Energy, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory opens its world-class facilities for scientists to explore how the universe works at the biggest, smallest, and fastest scales to invent powerful, life-changing tools while training the next generation of researchers.

180 Universities and research institutes making use of SLAC’s resources

Observatory building on top of a hillside at dusk with stars in the sky — Credit: RubinObs/NOIRLab/SLAC/DOE/NSF/AURA/H. Stockebrand

Learn more about how SLAC helped bring the Rubin Observatory to life with groundbreaking camera technology.

Accelerating AI Discovery

Over the past decade, we have been a global leader in developing machine learning models that support innovations in health and medicine, along with other areas, and continue to promote the responsible adoption of AI.

Model of a tumor — Credit: Stanford University

Stanford AI Model Predicts Cancer Prognoses, Responses to Treatment

Researchers at Stanford Medicine developed a groundbreaking AI model that can predict cancer outcomes more accurately than traditional methods. Trained on over 50 million pathology images and more than a billion related texts, the model has identified which patients with lung or gastroesophageal cancers may benefit from immunotherapy.

Learn more about AI’s role in cancer treatment >

Total Number of Notable AI Models* by University (2014-2024)

*An AI model is a computer program trained on large datasets to identify patterns, predict outcomes, and support decision-making. A “notable” AI model refers to one that has achieved significant recognition due to its performance, scale, or impact.

NOTE: Data presented on this website originates primarily from internal Stanford University departments, including the Office of Community Engagement, Land, Buildings & Real Estate, Business Affairs, the Office of Technology Licensing, University Human Resources, and others. Certain metrics, such as employee spending and job creation from construction expenditures, are derived from university data but required supplemental analysis and calculations that rely on publicly available data and information. The university retained an outside firm with expertise in the field to independently perform the supplemental analyses and calculations.