Tampa, FL – April 17, 2025
The National Academy of Inventors (NAI) released the 2024 Top 100 U.S. Universities Granted U.S. Utility Patents List today. Released annually, the Top 100 U.S. Universities ranking highlights and celebrates U.S. academic institutions that play a large role in advancing innovation through the critical step of securing their intellectual property through patents. This enables and empowers them to translate their inventions, bringing important technologies to the marketplace, bolstering the economy and creating tangible societal solutions.
“In the ever-evolving innovation landscape, it is imperative that the U.S. is remaining competitive and at the forefront of today’s emerging research and technologies,” said Paul R. Sanberg, FNAI, President of the NAI. “Ensuring the security of intellectual property through patenting is a crucial component to this and allows those innovations to be effectively moved to market where they can create valuable societal and economic impact. The Top 100 U.S. list celebrates U.S. universities and their inventive staff and faculty for their dedication in ensuring their innovations and IP are protected.”
Since 2013, NAI has published the Top 100 Worldwide Universities list, with the The Top 100 U.S. Universities list being introduced in 2023 to provide a more focused view of the national innovation landscape and the contributions made by U.S. academic institutions. Collectively, the universities on the 2024 Top 100 U.S. list hold over 6,700 patents. NAI Member Institutions comprise 96% of the ranking and hold nearly 6,500 patents.
“Global competition in science and technology is intense. To continue to keep our nation secure, we must invest in accelerating breakthrough technologies, transitioning these technologies to the market, and preparing Americans for better-quality, higher-wage jobs,” said U.S. National Science Foundation Director, Sethuraman Panchanathan. “NSF supports the translation of technologies from academic research to the marketplace through programs like the NSF Innovation Corps and the Directorate for Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships, which focuses on accelerating use-inspired research and its societal impact. The impacts of these investments are being felt in key technology areas nationwide.”
The Top 100 U.S. Universities List is one of three annual rankings which are published by the National Academy of Inventors. These rankings are based on calendar year data provided by the United States Patent and Trademark Office and aim to provide a comprehensive view of intellectual property protection in the innovation ecosystem. The Top 100 Worldwide Universities ranking was published in March and Top 60 Non-Profit Research Institutions and Government Agencies rankings will be released this spring leading up to NAI’s 14th Annual Conference held in Atlanta, Georgia. See the Top 100 U.S. Universities list here.
About the Top 100 U.S. Universities Granted Utility Patents in 2024
The information provided in this list is based on data obtained from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. For this report, a university is defined as an institution that has undergraduate degrees. Patents include only utility patents granted during the 2024 calendar year. All assignees are credited for patents when listed. The number of patents granted does not necessarily indicate the value of a university’s technology, the effectiveness of its research, or whether its patents will be successfully licensed and/or brought to market. This is a dynamic list of worldwide institution patents. Some universities may record patents under different, yet similar names or combine their patents under one foundation or trustee name. If you have questions please contact: [email protected]