Purdue University ranks 13th globally for receiving U.S. utility patents during the 2019 calendar year in a report published annually by the National Academy of Inventors and Intellectual Property Owners Association.
The distinction marks the sixth straight year that Purdue has ranked in the top 20. Purdue ranked 12th in the rankings in 2018, 17th in 2017, 15th in 2015 and 16th in 2014. Purdue is among only a dozen U.S. universities to be rated in the top 20 in each of the past five years and one of only a few in the top 20 without a medical school. The rankings are based on data obtained from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
“Purdue’s ranking in the top 20 in issued U.S. patents for the sixth straight year recognizes the renowned researchers at Purdue and their contributions to improving lives around the globe,” said Brooke Beier, vice president of the Purdue Office of Technology Commercialization, “It also demonstrates Purdue’s robust research and development ecosystem and ability to turn ideas from the laboratory into patents that are of interest to industry and the entrepreneurial community.”
The Purdue Research Foundation, which manages and licenses Purdue’s intellectual property through the Purdue Office of Technology Commercialization, received 136 utility patents in calendar year 2019 after receiving 126 utility patents in 2018. Arizona State is listed 12th with 137, Harvard is 11th with 156 and Michigan is 10th with 158 utility patents in the report. A complete list of the report’s Top 100 is online.
Graham Cooks, the Henry Bohn Hass Distinguished Professor of Chemistry and a member of the National Academy of Sciences, holds 100 patents. He also catalyzed the foundation of several companies to commercialize his innovations including Griffin Analytical Technologies and Prosolia Inc.; international companies acquired both.
“I am not surprised that Purdue does so well in the receiving utility patents. The recognition is reflects of the entire process, the support system and all the resources that the university provides for researchers to do their work,” Cooks said. “It’s a special place.”
The National Academy of Inventors and the Intellectual Property Owners Association have published the report annually since 2013.
In 2017, the Milken Institute ranked Purdue 12th in its list of best universities for technology transfer, ranking Purdue No. 1 in the Midwest and No. 1 nationally among public institutions without a medical school.
Purdue received the 2019 Innovation and Economic Prosperity Universities Award for Place from the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities for its work in entrepreneurship and technology-based economic development.
