UW Again Among Top 100 U.S. Universities with Most Patents

The University of Wyoming once again has made the list of the National Academy of Inventors' (NAI) top 100 universities in the U.S. with the most patents granted.

UW ranked at No. 91 on NAI's 2025 "Top 100 U.S. Universities Granted U.S. Utility Patents" released last month. UW was 91st as well on NAI's 2024 and 2022 lists.

"UW's patent output is a key indicator of innovation. It leads to startup companies, corporate engagement and job creation for Wyomingites, all of which have been priorities for me since my arrival at UW," UW President Ed Seidel says. "This recognition continues to enhance UW's reputation as a world-class research institution that translates outcomes ready for commercial applications. UW's inclusion in the NAI's Top 100 year after year is particularly remarkable, considering its moderate size."

Recent patents include several directly connected to Wyoming's economy.

The university continues to grow its patent portfolio in the field of enhanced oil recovery research at the Center of Innovation for Flow through Porus Media, resulting in four new patents.

In another area, a new patent covers a one-step process for converting raw coal powder directly into polycrystalline nano-graphite without any pretreatment. This approach offers a more efficient and cost-effective route for graphite production to support the rapidly growing demands of graphite in battery anode manufacturing, electric vehicle supply chains, thermal management technologies and advanced composite materials.

Another new patent covers a microfluidic enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technology that delivers higher detection sensitivity while using 95 percent less sample volume compared to conventional commercial assays. This enables the early detection of cancer biomarkers or viral infections, with additional applications in veterinary health, research and development and environmental monitoring.

Many vaccines, antibody therapeutics or other protein-based pharmaceuticals have a short shelf life or require refrigeration, increasing storage and distribution costs. Another new UW patent covers methods and compositions to stabilize these vaccines and therapeutics in a dry state or at temperatures up to 203 degrees Fahrenheit, eliminating cold-chain requirements and enabling shelf-stable storage with lower costs, less waste and broader distribution.

NAI is a member organization composed of U.S. and international universities, governmental agencies and nonprofit research institutes and has published its list of top 100 U.S. patent-producing universities since 2013. There are more than 4,600 individual members, including Fellows, senior members and chapter members affiliated with more than 260 institutions worldwide.

UW's inclusion on the Top 100 list underscores the doubling of the university's research enterprise since 2021, says Parag Chitnis, UW's vice president for research and economic development. Additionally, over the last few years, there has been an increased focus on translational research by UW researchers, which is of direct interest to industry and enhances UW's capabilities in impacting Wyoming's economy.

Universities on the 2025 Top 100 U.S. list hold more than 6,700 patents. A "utility patent" covers the creation of a new and improved as well as useful product, process or machine.

NAI was founded to recognize and encourage inventors with U.S. patents; enhance the visibility of academic technology and innovation; encourage the disclosure of intellectual property; educate and mentor innovative students; and create wider public understanding of how its members' inventions benefit society.

The 2025 list can be viewed on NAI's website at https://academyofinventors.org/.