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University of Florida

UF ranked among world’s top universities in number of patents

Brittany Sylvestri
March 11, 2025

The National Academy of Inventors ranked the University of Florida No. 20 on the list of Top 100 Worldwide Universities Granted Utility Patents in 2024.

Released annually, the Top 100 Worldwide Universities List ranks the top universities holding U.S. utility patents to highlight the important research and innovation within academic institutions. 

Through obtaining U.S. patents, institutions can translate their technologies in the competitive global market and make tangible impacts in people’s daily lives.

UF patents that contributed to this ranking include: 

  • With funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), researchers found promising evidence that Metformin, a widely used and inexpensive diabetes drug, may help slow the progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The clinical trial, recently completed at UF, showed an encouraging overall trend, suggesting that Metformin could play a critical role in delaying disease progression.
  • A UF researcher has engineered a vaccine technology that could transform how we protect both humans and animals against infectious diseases. Roy Curtiss created specially modified versions of Salmonella bacteria that act as powerful immune system boosters. Unlike traditional Salmonella, these engineered strains are designed to self-destruct, making them safe for use in vaccines. This new approach could lead to more effective and significantly less expensive vaccines against a wide range of threats, including bacterial infections, viruses and parasitic diseases. The potential impact on global health is particularly promising for regions where cost-effective vaccines are desperately needed.
  • An innovative technology, funded by a grant from the Florida High Tech Corridor, is set to transform eye care by eliminating harmful preservatives from eye drops at the moment of application, without altering the medication’s concentration. This innovation ensures that patients receive sterile, preservative-free eyedrops while maintaining the drug’s effectiveness.

“An important part of our mission as a public research university is in translating research discoveries into impact,” said David Norton, UF’s vice president for research. “For decades, UF has been a leader in creating technologies that improve the lives of people within the state, the nation and world. UF research is making a better tomorrow.”

UF joins some of the world’s best universities, including Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard University, Stanford University, California Institute of Technology, Johns Hopkins University, Northwestern University and those around the globe in the top 20 ranking. 

The Top 100 Worldwide Universities ranking highlights the critical role patents play in translating university research and innovation, as well as the important role academic institutions play in the innovation ecosystem at large. 

For more information, visit the National Academy of Inventors.