Discoveries Making a Difference

Creating impact is what we do. NC State faculty and student innovators are at the cutting edge of technological advancements that have greatly impacted our world. Learn more about NC State’s track record of success.

NC State SUCCESSES

Cree

Startup that used silicon carbide to create blue LEDs and full-color displays, which later led to the formation of Wolfspeed, a global leader in silicon carbide materials.

Cree’s Historical Contribution

SmartFresh

Compound commercialized by startup AgroFresh that delays ripening of produce during shipping, which was used commercially in 40 countries and brought in more than $25 million in licensing revenue to the university over its lifetime.

SmartFresh’s Technology

Covington Sweetpotato

One of NC State’s most impactful varieties that makes up over 90% of the sweepotatos grown in NC and 20% of U.S. sweetpotato acreage, generating over $3.5B in revenue for NC growers.

About the Covington Sweetpotato Success

BioResource International (BRI)

Biotech startup spun out of the lab of Dr. Jason Shih to develop a natural enzyme feed additive for optimized health and nutrition in swine and poultry, successfully acquired by NOVUS in 2024.

BRI’s Journey to Acquisition

WebAssign

Startup commercializing web-based automated grading, assistive learning, classroom management, and digital courseware platform that was acquired by large Boston-based textbook publisher Cengage Learning.

WebAssign’s Empire

HexaTech

NC State spin out from the lab of Dr. Zlatko Sitar’s focused on commercializing research focused on aluminum nitride crystal growth and wafer production for high-power UV LEDs, successfully acquired by lighting manufacturer Stanley Electric in 2019.

Sitar’s Aluminum Nitride Innovations

ImagineOptix

Startup spun out from the lab of Dr. Michael Escuti to develop advanced optics components for telecommunications and consumer electronics that was successfully acquired in 2021.

Escuti’s Optics Advances

CellSentry

Mobile security technology commercialized by spinout CellSentry and sublicensed to make up one of the core components of the Samsung Knox platform deployed in their mobile phones and tablets.

CellSentry’s Path to Market

GridBridge

Startup from NC State’s FREEDM Systems Center that commercialized breakthrough power delivery systems to support grid modernization, successfully acquired by transformer manufacturer ERMCO in 2017.

Gridbridge’s NC State Origins

Sentinel Biomedical

A spinout from Dr. Matthew Breen in the College of Veterinary Medicine that developed the CADET® BRAF product, a non-invasive, urine test to aid detection of canine bladder and prostate cancers.

Canine Diagnostic Transitions to Market

NIRvana Sciences

NC State spinout from the lab of Dr. Jon Lindsey developing synthetic red and near-infrared fluorescent dyes for use in diagnostics and imaging, successfully aquired by global leader Waters Biosciences in 2025.

NIRvana’s Path to Acquisition

Mimikai

NC State startup that developed the first all-natural, EPA-registered insect repellent for personal protection against mosquitoes and ticks as an alternative to DEET through the use of a compound produced from the wild tomato plant.

Mimikai Repellent Hits the Market

SinnovaTek

Food technology spinout using continuous-flow microwave thermal processing to enable long shelf life and flavor and quality preservation of fruit- and vegetable-based fluid food products.

SinnovaTek’s Ties to NC State

Locus Biosciences

Spinout from the lab of Dr. Rodolphe Barrangou that is developing precision antibacterial therapies that use CRISPR gene-editing technology to kill harmful bacterial pathogens in the human body.

Locus Biosciences’ CRISPR Innovations

InsightFinder

Venture backed spinout from the lab of Dr. Helen Gu focused on commercializing a predictive platform to improve the reliability of mission-critical IT systems and AI applications.

Cloud Computing Tool Moves to Market

By the Numbers

Supplement Your Lawn & Garden

Browse commercially-available plant varieties with ties to the Pack, from tomatoes and blueberries to ornamentals and turfgrass.

View the Plant Varieties

Impactful Innovators

Learn more about NC State researchers who have been recognized nationally and internationally for their work.

National Inventors Hall of Fame

Eight NC State faculty members have been inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame, which recognizes innovators who have changed the world.

Inventors Hall of Fame

Innovator & Entrepreneur of the Year

Annual awards recognizing NC State inventors or entrepreneurs that have demonstrated excellence in innovation or entrepreneurship.

Past Recipients of the Award

National Academy of Inventors Fellows

Election to NAI Fellow status is the highest professional distinction accorded solely to academic inventors.

NC State Fellows