UK among top 100 US universities granted utility patents in 2023
LEXINGTON, Ky. (June 4, 2024) — The University of Kentucky was ranked in the Top 100 U.S. Universities Granted Utility Patents in 2023 by the National Academy of Inventors (NAI).
The list uses calendar year data provided by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to highlight universities that play a large role in advancing innovation and invention across the country. The full report can be found here.
A member institution of the NAI, UK ranked 58th along with one other institution, with 33 U.S. utility patents granted in 2023. UK filed 161 patent applications and held 930 worldwide patent assets in fiscal year 2023.
“We are thrilled and honored to once again be recognized by the National Academy of Inventors as one of the top 100 U.S. universities granted utility patents,” said Taunya Phillips, director of the UK Office of Technology Commercialization. “This achievement reflects the dedication and ingenuity of our faculty, staff and students who continually drive innovation and contribute to the advancement of technology and knowledge.”
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“As we look at the current and future state of innovation in our nation, we need to ensure that the U.S. is remaining competitive in the international innovation ecosystem,” said Paul R. Sanberg, president of the NAI. “Protecting intellectual property is a key component to this, and the Top 100 U.S. Universities list allows us to recognize and celebrate universities and their faculty, staff and students who are not only innovating at high levels but taking the additional step of protecting their IP (intellectual property) through patenting.”
This is the second year the NAI has published the Top 100 U.S. Universities ranking, which serves as a complement to the Top 100 Worldwide Universities list. UK ranked 99th on that list.
About the National Academy of Inventors
The National Academy of Inventors is a member organization comprising U.S. and international universities and governmental and non-profit research institutes, with over 4,600 individual inventor members and Fellows spanning more than 260 institutions worldwide. It was founded in 2010 to recognize and encourage inventors with patents issued from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), enhance the visibility of academic technology and innovation, encourage the disclosure of intellectual property, educate, and mentor innovative students, and translate the inventions of its members to benefit society. The NAI has a close partnership with the USPTO that is reflected in their joint mission to expand access to underrepresented individuals and institutions participating in the invention and innovation ecosystem. NAI is one of three honorific organizations, along with the National Medals Foundation and National Inventors Hall of Fame, working closely with the USPTO on many discovery and innovation support initiatives. The NAI publishes the multidisciplinary journal, Technology and Innovation. www.academyofinventors.org
About OTC
The Office of Technology Commercialization (OTC) mission is to advance innovation that makes a difference. OTC supports the university's strategic plan by committing to help build Kentucky's innovation ecosystem and collaborate with industry partners worldwide; work cooperatively with innovators to strategically assess, protect, and license early-stage technologies; and to cultivate entrepreneurship and co-create new technology startups.
As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.
In 2022, UK was ranked by Forbes as one of the “Best Employers for New Grads” and named a “Diversity Champion” by INSIGHT into Diversity, a testament to our commitment to advance Kentucky and create a community of belonging for everyone. While our mission looks different in many ways than it did in 1865, the vision of service to our Commonwealth and the world remains the same. We are the University for Kentucky.