UC Riverside professor Charles Cai invented a way to sustainably transform waste from farming and forestry into pulp that can be spun into clothes and other products. His work is protected by one of the 6,800 patents UC has registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. (Credit: Stan Lim/UC Riverside)

The University of California secured more U.S. utility patents than any other university in the world last year, according to rankings released today by the National Academy of Inventors. The No. 1 ranking highlights UC’s unmatched record for innovation that drives societal progress and bolsters the economy. And it underscores the importance of federal funding and policy in powering America’s scientific and technological leadership on the world stage.

With 571 patents granted in 2025, UC’s patent success last year nearly doubled that of MIT, the next U.S. university on the list. UC has rights to over 6,800 active patents from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Read the full story from the UC Newsroom

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