The University of Georgia is ranked among the top 100 universities worldwide for the number of U.S. utility patents granted in 2014, according to a list released today by the National Academy of Inventors and the Intellectual Property Owners Association. 

The list, based on data obtained from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, recognizes the important role patents play in facilitating the movement of university research discoveries into the marketplace.

The UGA patents issued in 2014 included those covering antimicrobial coatings for textiles, a candidate HIV treatment, a biomarker that may enhance early detection of breast cancer, two poultry vaccines and a method for neutralizing munitions residue. UGA has more than 500 active patents protecting its inventions.

“Inclusion on this list reflects UGA’s commitment to moving discoveries into the market, an integral part of the University of Georgia land grant mission,” said Derek Eberhart, director of UGA Innovation Gateway, which assists UGA researchers in the translation of ideas and discoveries into products, services and technologies at companies.  

“Ranking among the top universities in the world highlights our robust technology transfer program,” Eberhart said. 

More than 500 products based on UGA technologies have reached the marketplace.

Top U.S. universities listed include the University of California’s 10-campus system, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Stanford University, as well as the Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University in Georgia. The entire list can be downloaded at http://www.Academyofinventors.com/pdf/NAI-IPO-Top-100-Universities-2014.pdf.

The National Academy of Inventors is an organization made up of U.S. and international universities and governmental and nonprofit research institutions serving academic intellectual property owners in all industries and fields of technologies. The Intellectual Property Owners Association is a trade association for owners of patents, trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets. 

For more information on UGA Innovation Gateway, visit http://research.uga.edu/gateway/.