UT institutions rank No. 3 in the world for most patents granted
AUSTIN (Sept. 7, 2022) – Receiving a patent every 1.4 days on average, University of Texas institutions are among the most innovative universities in the world and ranked No. 3 for most patents granted in 2021, according to the National Academy of Inventors’ (NAI) and Intellectual Property Owners Association’s (IPO) annual global rankings.
UT institutions have earned one of the top 5 spots in this ranking for four consecutive years, and this year moved up a spot from fourth to third, with 203 utility patents from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). The NAI and IPO have published this report annually since 2013, highlighting the vital role patents play in university research and innovation. Public and private research universities, as well as university systems, are included in the report.
“UT institutions are committed to making discoveries, solving problems, supporting industry needs and creating opportunities for Texans through research and innovation,” said UT System Chancellor James B. Milliken. “The patents produced across our system serve as a catalyst for positive change and opportunity, and helped UT institutions generate $128 million in licensed technologies in 2021.”
The top 10 universities worldwide in 2021, in order of ranking, are: The University of California System, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, The University of Texas System, King Abdulaziz University, Stanford University, Purdue Research Foundation, Harvard College, Arizona State University, California Institute of Technology and Tsinghua University.
Across the 13 UT institutions, research and development expenditures for FY 2021 totaled $3.5 billion, which reflects the commitment of UT institutions to improve Texans’ quality of life, advance treatments for deadly and debilitating diseases, develop new technologies, and expand the Texas economy. According to federally-sponsored research expenditures – the benchmark for research success at a university – the UT System ranks No. 1 in Texas and No. 2 in the nation.
Published annually since 2013, the NAI Report ranks the top 100 universities named as the first assignee on utility patents granted by the USPTO in the 2021 calendar year. The full report can be found here.
About The University of Texas System
For more than 130 years, The University of Texas System has been committed to improving the lives of Texans and people all over the world through education, research and health care. With 13 institutions, an enrollment of 243,000 students and an operating budget of $25.2 billion (FY 2023), the UT System is one of the largest public university systems in the United States. UT institutions produce more than 67,000 graduates annually and award more than one-third of the state’s undergraduate degrees and more than 60% of its medical degrees. Collectively, UT-owned and affiliated hospitals and clinics accounted for more than 10.6 million outpatient visits and more than 2 million hospital days in 2021. Research expenditures across UT institutions reached a record $3.5 billion last year, a number that ranks No. 1 in Texas and No. 2 in the nation based on federally sponsored research expenditures. The UT System also is one of the largest employers in Texas, with more than 22,000 faculty – including Nobel laureates and members of the National Academies – and more than 93,000 health care professionals, researchers and support staff.
News Contact Information
Catherine Frazier: cfrazier@utsystem.edu • 512-499-4360 (direct) • 512-751-5984 (mobile)
