The University of New Mexico has ranked #52 on the Top 100 U.S. Universities Granted U.S. Utility Patents in 2025, a list published by the National Academy of Inventors (NAI). Released annually, the Top 100 U.S. Universities ranking highlights and celebrates U.S. academic institutions that play a significant role in advancing innovation through the critical step of securing their intellectual property through patents. By protecting their intellectual property, these universities are able to translate their inventions into commercial technologies, creating tangible societal and economic impact.
“These universities and their inventive faculty are at the forefront of driving national innovation and competitiveness,” said Dr. Paul R. Sanberg, FNAI, President of the National Academy of Inventors. “By moving their ideas to market and protecting their IP with patents, these institutions are ensuring that the U.S. not only remains competitive on the global stage, but directly shapes the future of innovation.”
See the NAI’s March 18 press release, “NAI Announces Top 100 Patenting U.S. Universities of 2025,” here: https://academyofinventors.org/nai-announces-top-100-patenting-u-s-universities-of-2025/
About UNM Rainforest Innovations
As the technology-transfer and economic-development organization for the University of New Mexico (UNM), UNM Rainforest Innovations protects and commercializes technologies developed at UNM by filing patents and copyrights and transferring them to the marketplace. We connect the business community (companies, entrepreneurs, and investors) to these UNM technologies for licensing opportunities and the creation of start-up companies. Our vision is to play a vital role in New Mexico’s economic development and to be a leader in technology commercialization. Under the leadership of CEO & Chief Economic Development Officer Lisa Kuuttila, UNM Rainforest Innovations is substantially growing its program using the Rainforest model to develop an innovation economy in New Mexico. To learn more about us, visit our website at http://www.innovations.unm.edu
About the Top 100 U.S. Universities Granted Utility Patents in 2025
The information provided in this list is based on data obtained from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. For this report, a university is defined as an institution that has undergraduate degrees. Patents include only utility patents granted during the 2025 calendar year. All assignees are credited for patents when listed. The number of patents granted does not necessarily indicate the value of a university’s technology, the effectiveness of its research, or whether its patents will be successfully licensed and/or brought to market. Some universities may record patents under different, yet similar names or combine their patents under one foundation or trustee name. If you have questions please contact: info@academyofinventors.org
About the National Academy of Inventors
The National Academy of Inventors is a member organization comprising U.S. and international universities, and governmental and non-profit research institutes, with over 4,600 individual inventor members and Fellows spanning more than 260 institutions. It was founded in 2010 to recognize and encourage inventors with patents issued from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, enhance the visibility of academic technology and innovation, encourage the disclosure of intellectual property, educate and mentor innovative students, and translate the inventions of its members to benefit society. The Academy and the USPTO have enjoyed a collaborative partnership since the founding of NAI. Most recently this has been reflected in their joint mission to expand access to the innovation ecosystem through a focus on actively valuing and leveraging every individual’s unique perspectives, talents, and contributions. www.academyofinventors.org