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Get the most interesting and important stories from the University of Pittsburgh.The University of Pittsburgh ranked No. 28 in patents granted to universities worldwide in 2024, according to a list published by the National Academy of Inventors.
Released annually since 2013, the Top 100 Worldwide Universities Granted U.S. Utility Patents list spotlights the universities holding U.S. patents to showcase the important research and innovation taking place within academic institutions.
Pitt innovators were issued 102 U.S. patents in the calendar year 2024.
“Today’s Pitt innovators are producing breakthroughs across multiple disciplines, from diagnosing Alzheimer’s Disease and brain aneurysms earlier, to treating aggressive cancers with cutting-edge cell and gene therapies, to improving the reliability of the nation’s energy grid — and so much more,” said Evan Facher, University of Pittsburgh vice chancellor for innovation and entrepreneurship and associate dean for commercial translation at Pitt’s School of Medicine.
“One of the first steps in achieving impact for innovation is seeking intellectual property protection,” he said. “But that is only the beginning. From there we work alongside Pitt innovators every step from innovation to impact to provide the education, mentoring, and funding that our innovators need to bring their discoveries to life.”
Your idea could be next
From invention disclosures to patent applications, the Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship supports Pitt faculty, staff and students on their commercialization journeys. Find resources online or reach out to innovate [at] pitt.edu.
The ranking highlights the critical role patents play in translating university research and innovation, as well as the important role academic institutions play in the innovation ecosystem at large. Collectively, the universities on the 2024 Top 100 Worldwide list hold over 9,600 patents. Through obtaining U.S. patents, these institutions have the ability to translate their technologies into the competitive global market and make tangible impacts on the daily lives of consumers.
“The Top 100 Worldwide list showcases the vital role U.S. patents play in moving technologies from bench to marketplace at academic institutions around the globe,” said Paul R. Sanberg, president of the National Academy of Inventors. “By recognizing and celebrating this crucial step in the commercialization process, we aim to highlight how intellectual property can benefit inventors and their institutions, as well as encourage them to pursue commercializing technologies that can have beneficial societal and economic impacts.”
Photography by Aimee Obidzinski