Georgia Institute of Technology has been ranked among the top 20 universities worldwide for U.S. utility patents granted in 2025, according to the National Academy of Inventors (NAI). The university achieved the 13th spot nationally, with its technology licensing office generating 128 patents last year.
The recognition highlights Georgia Tech’s efforts to move research breakthroughs from the laboratory into commercial markets through a coordinated intellectual property strategy that supports inventors across faculty, staff, and students.
“Our global ranking is a testament to the culture of research innovation we are fostering at Georgia Tech,” said Raghupathy “Siva” Sivakumar, vice president of Commercialization and chief commercialization officer at Georgia Tech. “Our goal is to ensure that every breakthrough in the lab has a clear, protected pathway to become a startup or product that changes lives. Breaking into the top 20 for the first time demonstrates the impact of our commercialization ecosystem in taking IP to market.”
Over the past five years, Georgia Tech has more than doubled its patent output compared to 2020. Utility patents play an important role as they form the legal basis for licensing agreements, partnerships with industry, and launching new ventures. The university’s Technology Licensing team guides researchers on disclosure processes and patent strategies to help bring their innovations into real-world use.
“Our team’s mission is to serve as the gateway to smoothly transfer technologies from the lab to the real world,” said Mary Albertson, director of Technology Licensing at Georgia Tech. “By partnering with researchers early in the discovery process and navigating the complexities of patent protection, we help ensure Georgia Tech innovations are positioned for meaningful economic and societal impact.”
The NAI’s Top 100 Worldwide Universities Granted U.S. Utility Patents ranking has been published annually since 2013. It underscores how academic institutions contribute to global innovation by translating research into protected technologies that can advance society and strengthen economies.
Georgia Institute of Technology is known for producing alumni who have become military generals, Medal of Honor recipients, and leaders in engineering and innovation (https://gatech.edu/). The institution reported a $5.8 billion economic impact on its home state (https://gatech.edu/), reflecting its broader influence beyond academia. Its urban campus spans over 400 acres in Midtown Atlanta (https://gatech.edu/), offering extensive resources for students and researchers alike. As part of the University System of Georgia (https://gatech.edu/), it continues to receive high rankings among public universities for undergraduate experiences and support (https://gatech.edu/).
