The University of Arkansas System tied for 48th among the world’s top 100 universities for the number of U.S. utility patents received in 2012, according to a statement from the UA System.
UA System universities received 34 patents for inventions by researchers, according to the National Academy of Inventors and the Intellectual Property Owners Association, which compiled the list from data obtained from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. The UA System was tied in the top 100 rankings with American universities Arizona State University, the New Jersey Institute of Technology and Texas A&M University.
“I’m very proud of the faculty scientists across our institutions for conducting innovative research across a number of fields,” Dr. Donald Bobbitt, president of the UA System, said in the statement. “Producing research to improve the human condition is a key component of the mission of our university, and this ranking shows that our scientists are taking that mission to heart.”
Among the UA System’s patents, 20 included inventors at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, nine included inventors at the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, four included inventors at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, and four included inventors at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Two of the 34 patents included inventors from more than one UA System institution.
“Innovation based on university technology has proven to be a key factor in worldwide industrial and economic development,” Paul Sanberg, president of the National Academy of Inventors, said in a press release announcing the rankings. “In the 21st century, the support, encouragement and development of technology and innovation are fundamental to the success of a university.”
UAMS faculty members produced patents related to monitoring breast cancer treatment, controlling bone loss, performing an anastomosis and the assessment, prevention and therapy of cancer, among other areas.
The Division of Agriculture earned patents in a variety of research programs by personnel in food science; biological and agricultural engineering; poultry science; crop, soil, and environmental sciences and the Rice Research and Extension Center.
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, faculty members produced patents in nanocrystals, asynchronous circuit design and tactile aids for access to science and engineering software for visually impaired users. UA-Fayetteville became a charter member of the National Academy of Inventors in 2012.
All four UALR patents were in the area of advanced materials, which show promise to greatly improve everyday materials and processes.