Baylor Ranked in Top 100 U.S. Universities Granted Utility Patents in 2023
Top university patent holders ranked in report from National Academy of Inventors and IP Owners Association
Baylor University recently celebrated the research and innovation within the School of Engineering and Computer Science, including the Point of Needs Innovations Center at the Baylor Research and Innovation Collaborative (BRIC). (Matthew Minard/Baylor University)
Contact: Lori Fogleman, Baylor University Media and Public Relations, 254-709-5959
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WACO, Texas (June 4, 2024) – Baylor University is ranked No. 80 on the Top 100 U.S. Universities Granted Utility Patents in 2023, a list published by the National Academy of Inventors (NAI). Published annually, this ranking serves to highlight and celebrate U.S. universities that play a large role in advancing innovation and invention in the United States.
Baylor is among only seven Texas institutions listed in the report, including the University of Texas System, Texas A&M University, University of Houston System, Texas Tech System, University of North Texas and Rice University. Baylor also is among 14 Big 12 institutions ranked in the NAI’s Top 100 list: Arizona State, Colorado, Arizona, UCF Research Foundation, Iowa State, Utah, UH System, Cincinnati, Texas Tech System, BYU, West Virginia, Kansas and Kansas State.
“For the third year in a row, Baylor University is included in this list of elite research institutions, which is a validation across the University of our efforts to produce research that has an impact well beyond campus,” said Kevin Chambliss, Ph.D., vice provost for research at Baylor and professor of chemistry and biochemistry. “Baylor’s inclusion in these rankings is a testament to the alignment and momentum throughout the University, from faculty, to our Innovation and Economic Development team and Office of General Counsel. Baylor researchers have contributed to patents that have led to the formation of new companies, and I’m excited to see where their efforts lead in the future.”
As a Research 1 university, Baylor faculty are at the forefront of advancing human knowledge, contributing to their disciplines and creating solutions to some of the world’s most meaningful challenges – with Baylor’s distinct voice and Christian mission – through grants, partnerships and collaboration both on and off-campus.
Technology transfer
Baylor’s research infrastructure is headlined by the strategic focus of Illuminate and by Baylor’s core research facilities, which provide university and industry partners with the focus, funding and facilities needed to conduct groundbreaking research. Through the Office of the Vice Provost for Research, the Office of Innovation and Economic Development manages all intellectual property generated by Baylor with the goal of positively impacting society and furthering the Baylor mission through the commercialization of technologies. This is achieved through the technology transfer process that starts with Baylor inventors – the faculty, students and staff who develop an invention, discovery, advancement or innovation that they feel may address a larger societal issue or have commercial potential.
Staff with Innovation and Economic Development work with Baylor inventors throughout the technology transfer process to protect, market and commercialize their inventions. By participating in this process, inventors advance the transfer of scientific achievements to broader society and promote a competitive economy of innovation. Inventors also can increase funding for their research and department, create student research opportunities and receive external financial awards by engaging in the technology transfer process through Innovation and Economic Development.
"Our research faculty and their graduate students are working diligently to solve important research issues often leading to high value inventions,” said Jeremy Vickers, Ph.D., associate vice president of innovation and economic development at Baylor. “Our office has the opportunity to assist them in finding industry partners and valuable collaborators while walking alongside researchers from invention through patenting and assisting with commercialization."
Innovation ecosystem
NAI has published rankings since 2013, starting with the Top 100 Worldwide Universities list. Last year, The Top 100 U.S. Universities ranking was introduced to serve as a complement to the Top 100 Worldwide Universities list and provide a more focused view of the national innovation landscape and the contributions made by U.S. academic institutions. This year, NAI launched the Top 60 Worldwide Non-profit Research Institutes and Government Agencies ranking, highlighting the role non-profit research institutions and government agencies play in advancing innovation around the world and driving the global economy. Together, these rankings aim to provide a comprehensive view of intellectual property protection in the innovation ecosystem.
NAI’s Top 100 U.S. Universities Granted U.S. Utility Patents list is 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. See the full Top 100 U.S. Universities rankings here.
“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, FNAI, 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 through patenting.”
ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY
Baylor University is a private Christian University and a nationally ranked Research 1 institution. The University provides a vibrant campus community for more than 20,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating University in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 100 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 12 nationally recognized academic divisions.
ABOUT THE TOP 100 U.S. UNIVERSITIES GRANTED UTILITY PATENTS IN 2023
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 2023 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 info@academyofinventors.org.
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.