NEWS
NORMAN, OKLA. – For a second year in a row, the University of Oklahoma has been ranked in the Top 100 Universities Granted U.S. Utility Patents by the National Academy of Inventors. In addition to being the only university in Oklahoma to be recognized, OU’s No. 78 national ranking highlights the collaborative efforts of the OU Office of Innovation and Corporate Partnerships and others across the university’s innovation ecosystem.
“This recognition by the National Academy of Inventors underscores OU’s commitment to translational research that moves innovative discoveries to the marketplace, addresses pressing global challenges and drives Oklahoma’s economic prosperity,” said OU Vice President for Research and Partnerships Tomás Díaz de la Rubia.
In fiscal year 2023, 58 OU faculty across the university’s three campuses received 26 U.S. and foreign patents. Thus far in FY24, 23 OU inventors have been issued 11 U.S. utility patents and 12 foreign patents. These accomplishments stem from goals defined in OU’s “Lead On, University” Strategic Plan. These efforts include simplifying intellectual property options for corporate-sponsored research and establishing the iPath program for OU innovators.
Additionally, OU is having a record-breaking year for disclosures, the first step toward technology commercialization. For FY24, OU researchers have filed 72 disclosures: 41 disclosures by OU Norman faculty and 31 by OU Health Sciences faculty. Likewise, four faculty members are developing spin-off organizations based on their OU intellectual property, a milestone achievement for the university.
“This achievement is a well-deserved recognition of the creative work that is being done at the University of Oklahoma by our renowned faculty,” said Michael Schade, interim chief innovation and corporate officer and interim executive director of the Office of Innovation and Corporate Partnerships. “These patents represent the cutting edge of research and confirm that products that will shape our world tomorrow are being discovered here at OU today.”
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. It is meant to provide a more focused view of the national innovation landscape and the contributions made by U.S. academic institutions. NAI also plans to track other more concentrated areas of the innovation landscape.
“Innovation has always been at the heart of U.S. culture, and the Top 100 U.S. Universities list allows us to recognize and celebrate the commitment these universities have to the American tradition of invention and protection of IP,” said Executive Director of NAI Jamie Renee.
NAI’s Top 100 lists are created using calendar year data provided by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. The top 100 placements include all named assignees listed on the patent. View the complete Top 100 U.S. Universities list.
About the University of Oklahoma
Founded in 1890, the University of Oklahoma is a public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. As the state’s flagship university, OU serves the educational, cultural, economic and health care needs of the state, region and nation. OU was named the state’s highest-ranking university in U.S. News & World Report’s most recent Best Colleges list. For more information about the university, visit ou.edu.
Since its founding in 2014, the Withrow Leadership Scholars program at the University of Oklahoma has empowered students with transformative opportunities. Thanks to a $1 million endowment from Jon and Cathryn Withrow, the program annually supports 20 upperclassmen selected from the Dodge Family College of Arts and Sciences in year-round leadership training and a study-abroad experience in France.
The University of Oklahoma is excited to announce a new game day tradition this fall: free, public tailgating on the historic North Oval, also known as the Parrington Oval. For the first time in university history, fans have the opportunity to set up their tailgates on one of the most recognizable places on campus, creating an electric atmosphere just steps away from Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.
Two anthropology faculty members at the University of Oklahoma are earning international recognition for recent publications that shed light on critical aspects of cultural heritage and ancient innovation.
