College displays patent power

The University of South Florida was granted 105 patents for fiscal 2016, up from 90 in 2015.

That places USF among the top 10 nationally among public universities for the past six years in generating new inventions, according to annual rankings by the Intellectual Property Owners/National Academy of Inventors.

“At USF, we understand the value of patents and commercialization and the positive effect that a commitment to translating our research can have,” says Paul Sanberg, senior vice president for research, innovation and economic development at USF, in the statement. “The advantages to universities range from enhancing student success and supporting a high level of scholarship among faculty to increased opportunities for research funding, access to unrestricted funds for further institutional investment, greater prestige, and economic development.”

The university also set a new institutional record with 133 license and option agreements executed in fiscal 2016, according to the statement. That's up 12% over 2015, when it had 119 license and option agreements, the release adds. The agreements represent companies that have contracted with USF to further develop research into commercial products.

“Economic development is one of USF's most important missions. We are one of the nation's largest public research universities and we play a leading role in growing and elevating the Tampa Bay Region's economy through our discoveries,” USF System President Judy Genshaft says in the statement. “Through innovation and invention, our talented faculty and students are at the forefront of projects that are producing new technologies, developing new cures, and making life better for others.”