The Top 100 U.S. Universities Granted Utility Patents List showcases schools that advance innovation nationally and internationally.
Summary:
For the third consecutive year, the Texas Tech University System has been named to the National Academy of Inventors’ Top 100 U.S. Universities Granted Utility Patents list, climbing to No. 73 in 2024. This recognition highlights the university’s expanding culture of innovation and the real-world impact of its research, with Texas Tech University accounting for 66% of the System’s patents last year.
Why This Matters:
- Encourages Innovation: Recognition by NAI reinforces the university’s commitment to turning research into marketable solutions.
- Boosts Reputation: National rankings enhance Texas Tech’s visibility and appeal to researchers, students and industry partners.
- Economic/Societal Impact: Protecting and commercializing intellectual property drives technological advancement and benefits the broader community.
For the third straight year, the National Academy of Inventors (NAI) has named the Texas Tech University System to its Top 100 U.S. Universities Granted Utility Patents List.
After debuting on the inaugural list in 2022, the Texas Tech University System improves to No. 73. The NAI Top 100 celebrates American innovation at schools that promote innovation throughout the U.S. and internationally. Since 2013, NAI has published the Top 100 Worldwide Universities list. The Top 100 U.S. Universities list is the newest ranking published by NAI.
“Patents represent innovative technologies that disrupt the current market, and Texas Tech’s continuous presence on this list is indicative of the outstanding impact of our researchers,” said Joseph Heppert, vice president for research & innovation at Texas Tech. “We are fortunate to have faculty and staff who work tirelessly to get these innovative solutions into the hands of consumers who need them.”
Texas Tech University was granted 66% of the patents held by the Texas Tech University System in 2024. Of the 25 patents granted, Texas Tech researchers hold 16 and share one with the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC), which also earned six patents while TTUHSC El Paso earned two.
“Being listed on this ranking once again by the National Academy of Inventors underscores the incredible work happening across the Texas Tech University System – to be recognized multiple years in a row is a testament to the vibrant and supportive research environment we have cultivated on our campuses,” said Tedd L. Mitchell, M.D., chancellor of the Texas Tech University System. “It showcases the remarkable talent, drive and ground-breaking spirit that exists among our people. Above all, it’s proof that our researchers at Texas Tech University are committed to pushing boundaries and turning innovative ideas into tangible solutions that impact real lives.”
The 16 Texas Tech faculty earning patents in 2024 came from the College of Arts & Sciences, the Edward E. Whitacre Jr. College of Engineering and the Davis College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources.
Texas Tech is widely recognized within the NAI. Since 2012, 12 current faculty members at Texas Tech have been named NAI Fellows. They hail from within the Whitacre Jr. College of Engineering, the College of Health & Human Sciences and the Davis College.
“We are proud to once again have Texas Tech rise in the national rankings, marking our highest number of annual issued U.S. patents to date,” said Cameron Smith, assistant vice president for research commercialization at Texas Tech. “This milestone reflects the growing culture of innovation among our faculty and staff across the Texas Tech University System, whose groundbreaking work continues to create real-world impact. We’re grateful for the continued partnership with the National Academy of Inventors and their unwavering support of academic innovation nationwide.”
The Top 100 U.S. Universities list is meant to provide a more focused view of the national innovation landscape and the contributions made by U.S. academic institutions. NAI plans to track other, more focused areas of innovation as well.
NAI’s Top 100 lists are created using calendar-year data provided by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Top 100 placement includes all named assignees listed on the patent.
“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, 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.”
About the NAI
The National Academy of Inventors is a member organization comprising U.S. and international universities and governmental and nonprofit research institutes with more than 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 its members’ inventions to benefit society. The NAI has a close collaborative relationship with the USPTO and is one of three honorific organizations, along with the National Medals 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.