USF receives top 10 national ranking for patents

TAMPA — The University of South Florida ranked ninth in the nation among public universities for U.S. patents granted in 2015.

The university, which had 90 patents granted last year, has ranked in the top 10 for the past six years, a statement says. Its patents in 2015 included ones for pharmaceutical drug delivery, solar energy, medical devices, nanotechnology and specialized electronics.

“USF has a strong focus on translating the inventive work of our faculty into products and processes that benefit society and support the economic prosperity for our region,” says Paul Sanberg, USF's senior vice president for research, innovation and economic development, in the statement. “Patents are often a first step in the commercialization process that ultimately develops the economy and creates jobs.”

Three Florida universities made the top 100 list of 2015 patents granted, the statement says. Joining USF is the University of Florida and the University of Central Florida, with 105 and 50 patents, respectively.