MIT far outpaces other Massachusetts universities in industry-sponsored research.

Research by Nicole Gauvin

Institution — Industry-funded R&D expenditures in 2004 (dollars in thousands)

1. MIT — 72,227

2. Boston University — 8,575

3. Northeastern University — 8,316

4. Tufts University – 7,392

5. University of Massachusetts, Worcester – 5,904

6. Harvard University — 5,877

7. University of Massachusetts, Amherst — 4,914

8. University of Massachusetts, Lowell — 3,904

9. Worcester Polytechnic Institute — 2,041

10. Boston College – 1,251

Source: National Science Foundation

See related Datapoints about the top institutions in total R&D spending.