Five universities in the State University System of Florida have been ranked among the top 100 nationwide for utility patents for the eighth consecutive year, according to the National Academy of Inventors’ 2024 list, released this week.

The rankings measure the number of U.S. utility patents granted to universities in a calendar year and are widely viewed as a benchmark for research productivity, innovation capacity and potential for commercial application.

The University of Florida maintained its 13th place position from 2023, while the University of South Florida rose to 26th from 34th. The University of Central Florida advanced to 34th from 52nd, Florida International University climbed to 42nd from 57th, and Florida State University made the largest leap, moving to 55th from 90th. Four of the five institutions improved their standing from last year, with UF holding its position in the top tier.

State University System Chancellor Ray Rodrigues said the recognition reflects the work of education leaders in translating research into solutions.

“This achievement recognizes the real-world impact of administrators, faculty, and students who are focused on innovation and not indoctrination. Governor DeSantis and the Florida Legislature have recently invested more than $200M to recruit and retain top-tier faculty; this is just another example of how Florida’s efforts are paying off,” said Chancellor Rodrigues of the State University System. “These rankings show our System’s commitment to invention, research, and innovation, which leads to increased commercialization for our local communities, our state, and the nation.”

The National Academy of Inventors, established at USF, compiles the list annually to highlight institutions producing significant patent activity. State leaders say the rankings underscore Florida’s emphasis on strengthening its higher education system to drive innovation and economic growth.

The list was led by the University of California system with 540 patents, followed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with 295, the University of Texas system with 234, Purdue University with 213, and Stanford University with 199.