The University of Arizona is ranked 31st in the world in the National Academy of Inventors’ list of universities granted utility patents for inventions in 2024.
The UA received 96 U.S. patents in 2024 for inventions developed by faculty, researchers, staff and students, up from 61 in 2023. The university jumped from the 51st position in 2023 on the list.
“This substantial growth underscores the university’s expanding impact in translating research into practical applications,” said a UA news release Thursday.
UA’s inventions patented in 2024 included:
- An automotive radar that uses a 3D-printed Luneburg lens, by engineering professor Hao Xin.
- A falloposcope for ovarian cancer detection, by a team led by biomedical engineering professor Jennifer Barton.
- Apatch with embedded muscle cells that can be used to repair damaged heart tissue, by cardiology professor Steven Goldman.
“The University of Arizona’s impressive rise in the NAI rankings is a testament to the ingenuity, dedication and perseverance of our research community, Tomás Díaz de la Rubia, UA’s senior vice president for research and innovation, said in the news release.
“Patents are more than milestones — they are catalysts that move ideas from the lab into the world, fueling economic growth, strengthening industries and improving lives. This recognition affirms the university’s role as a hub of innovation and impact, where groundbreaking research converges with real-world application to solve society’s most pressing challenges.”
Doug Hockstad is associate vice president of Tech Launch Arizona, UA’s commercialization arm that guides innovations from conception to marketplace.
He credited “the innovative spirit of University of Arizona inventors.”
“Our faculty, researchers, students and staff are driven by a desire to create meaningful impact for society,” Hockstad said. “Earning a patent is not easy; it takes a deep dedication to seeing an invention all the way through what can be a long and arduous process.”
