ATLANTA (Feb. 12, 2026) -- The National Academy of Inventors (NAI) has ranked Georgia Tech among the top 20 universities worldwide for U.S. utility patents granted in 2025. The Institute climbed to number 13 nationally as a result of its technology licensing office generating 128 patents. The recognition underscores the Institute’s success in moving research breakthroughs from the laboratory into the commercial marketplace, reflecting a coordinated intellectual property (IP) strategy that supports faculty, staff, and student inventors. 

“Our global ranking is a testament to the culture of research innovation we are fostering at Georgia Tech,” said Raghupathy “Siva” Sivakumar, Georgia Tech’s vice president of Commercialization and chief commercialization officer. “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 shown steady growth in its patent output, issuing more than double the number of patents as in 2020. With utility patents as a key indicator of bench-to-market success, they serve as the legal foundation for licensing agreements, industry partnerships, and the launch of new ventures. Through Technology Licensing at Georgia Tech, researchers receive guidance on disclosure, patent strategy, and protection pathways that help translate research outcomes into real-world applications.

“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.”

Released annually since 2013, the Top 100 Worldwide Universities Granted U.S. Utility Patents ranking highlights the critical role academic institutions play in the global innovation ecosystem. Through the translation of research into protected technologies, these institutions advance societal progress, while strengthening national and global economies.