The University of Cincinnati announced on May 1 that it has climbed 19 places to reach No. 61 in the National Academy of Inventors’ ranking of the top 100 U.S. universities for patents in 2025.
This advancement highlights UC’s growing success in turning research discoveries into technologies with real-world applications. The increase in patent activity is seen as a driver for job creation, investment attraction, and economic growth throughout Ohio.
The National Academy of Inventors publishes an annual list recognizing academic institutions that secure intellectual property through patents, using data from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. This ranking aims to show how universities contribute to innovation across the country.
Geoffrey Pinski, assistant vice president for technology transfer at the UC Office of Innovation, said, “Patents represent a critical step in moving research beyond the lab. Investment in the intellectual property of the institution is an investment in its researchers and innovators and creates opportunities to translate discoveries into new products and services that create tangible societal and economic impact.” Pinski also said that moving up by nineteen spots was a significant achievement: “Our researchers are making discoveries,” he said, “and we’re turning those discoveries into solutions that improve lives and strengthen the economy.”
In 2024, UC had twenty patented discoveries; by the following year, this number increased to thirty-four patents. The university credits its Office of Technology Transfer and Commercialization with securing legal protections for inventions created by faculty and staff while supporting startups and connecting innovations with industry partners.
The improved ranking helps UC attract top researchers, students, collaborators from industry, and additional research funding. University officials say this strengthens their innovation pipeline as they continue developing technologies across engineering, health sciences, digital fields, and advanced manufacturing.
