From advances in carbon capture to breakthroughs in medical imaging, the University of Houston System is driving innovation that is making an impact worldwide. That commitment to discovery has earned the UH System a No. 62 ranking — and No. 3 in Texas — on the National Academy of Inventors’ 2024 Top 100 U.S. Universities Granted U.S. Utility Patents List.
The annual list recognizes institutions of higher education for the number of patents issued. In 2024, the UH System received 34 utility patents, up from 27 the year before. Utility patents are among the most coveted because they give inventors exclusive commercial rights to produce and utilize the latest technologies.
“Our researchers are among the best in the world, developing technology that will change the well-being of our society for the better,” said Ramanan Krishnamoorti, vice president of energy and innovation at UH. “At UH, we strive to be at the forefront of creating new technologies that improve everyday life, boost Houston’s status as a beacon for innovation and tackle complex societal problems.”
“At UH, we strive to be at the forefront of creating new technologies that improve everyday life, boost Houston’s status as a beacon for innovation and tackle complex societal problems.”
— Ramanan Krishnamoorti, vice president of energy and innovation at the University of Houston
The UH System climbed one spot from its No. 63 ranking last year. Among the discoveries that helped propel the UH System forward:
- Wearable sensors developed by an engineering team to examine eye movement and assess brain disorders.
- A groundbreaking advancement in X-ray imaging technology offering unprecedented clarity through 3D modeling.
- An AI-powered tool that can help predict and control pandemic spread.
UH System researchers are continuing to build momentum and produce transformative ideas that will fuel societal advances and economic growth while helping secure Houston’s place as a global leader in innovation. Just this summer, Professor Mim Rahimi, a professor at UH’s Cullen College of Engineering, unveiled two innovations that could improve carbon capture.
Meanwhile, Tarsis Ferreira, an assistant professor at the UH College of Optometry, received a $2.2 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to develop a treatment for corneal scarring.
And in June, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture awarded UH researchers nearly $1.2 million to develop an artificial intelligence that will help address disaster response.
“In the ever-evolving innovation landscape, it is imperative that the U.S. is remaining competitive and at the forefront of today’s emerging research and technologies,” said Paul R. Sanberg, president of NAI.
The academy has published rankings since 2013, and the list is created using calendar year data provided by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Top 100 placement includes all named assignees listed on the patent.
The NAI is a member organization comprising U.S. and international universities, and governmental and nonprofit research institutes, with over 4,000 individual inventor members and Fellows spanning more than 250 institutions worldwide.
“Ensuring the security of intellectual property through patenting is a crucial component to this and allows those innovations to be effectively moved to market where they can create valuable society and economic impact,” Sanberg said. “The Top 100 U.S. list celebrates U.S. universities and their inventive staff and faculty for their dedication in ensuring their innovations and IP are protected.”