The University of California was granted more U.S. utility patents last year than any other university in the world, according to a ranking released today (April 26) by the National Academy of Inventors.
The UC system is an innovation powerhouse, with an average of five new inventions being made every day across its 10 campuses and six academic health centers.
In 2022, its vast research enterprise was awarded 570 U.S. utility patents, according to NAI’s Top 100 Worldwide Universities Granted Utility Patents list. Massachusetts Institute of Technology ranked second, with 343 utility patents. The report uses data from the U.S. Patent and Trademark office to create its list, which it compiles as part of its mission to highlight the critical role played by universities in research and innovation.
| NAI-Ranked Institution | Number of Patents |
|---|---|
| University of California | 570 |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | 343 |
| King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals | 233 |
| The University of Texas | 225 |
| Purdue University | 192 |
| Stanford University | 184 |
| Harvard University | 179 |
| King Abdulaziz University | 177 |
| California Institute of Technology | 164 |
| Johns Hopkins University | 159 |
A utility patent, sometimes known as a patent for invention, is granted for the creation of a useful new or improved product, process or machine.
“The UC system has a vibrant culture of innovation, entrepreneurship and cross-disciplinary collaboration across our 10 campuses, so it’s gratifying to see that reflected in this ranking from the National Academy of Inventors,” said Dr. Theresa Maldonado, UC’s vice president for Research & Innovation. “As a public institution, our faculty and researchers are working to improve lives every day with their groundbreaking work.”
From agriculture to biotechnology and computing, many of California’s biggest industries trace their roots to UC research. And the hits keep coming: UC researchers disclosed 1,718 inventions in 2021, an average of five new inventions per day. Even in the midst of a global pandemic, UC research in 2021 resulted in 80 new startups.
