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LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 17, 2025) — The University of Kentucky was ranked in the Top 100 Worldwide Universities Granted U.S. Utility Patents in 2024 by the National Academy of Inventors (NAI).

The report uses data provided by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and highlights the vital role patents play in university research and innovation. 

Published annually since 2013, the report ranks the top 100 universities holding U.S. utility patents, which protect the way an invention is used and works, in the 2024 calendar year. The full report can be found here.

A member institution of the NAI, UK ranked No. 64, with 32 U.S. utility patents granted in 2024. UK filed 162 international and domestic patent applications and held 675 patent assets in fiscal year 2024.

“The University of Kentucky’s continued inclusion among the top 100 global universities for innovation underscores UK’s leadership as a catalyst for research, discovery and real-world impact”, said Matthew Upton, director of Technology Commercialization, UK Innovate. “This prestigious recognition reflects the relentless drive of our researchers to push the boundaries of knowledge and translate their work into meaningful innovation. Their commitment to advancing science and improving lives, both locally and globally, is what makes this achievement possible.”

To search available technologies, visit their site.

“In the ever-evolving innovation landscape, it is imperative that the U.S. is remaining competitive and at the forefront of today’s emerging research and technologies,” said Paul R. Sanberg, president of the NAI. “Ensuring the security of intellectual property through patenting is a crucial component to this and allows those innovations to be effectively moved to market where they can create valuable societal and economic impact. The Top 100 U.S. list celebrates U.S. universities and their inventive staff and faculty for their dedication in ensuring their innovations and IP are protected.”

About the National Academy of Inventors
The National Academy of Inventors is a member organization comprising U.S. and international universities, and governmental and non-profit research institutes, with more than 4,600 individual inventor members and fellows spanning more than 260 institutions. It was founded in 2010 to recognize and encourage inventors with patents issued from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, enhance the visibility of academic technology and innovation, encourage the disclosure of intellectual property, educate and mentor innovative students and translate the inventions of its members to benefit society. The academy and the USPTO have enjoyed a collaborative partnership since the founding of NAI. Most recently this has been reflected in their joint mission to expand access to the innovation ecosystem through a focus on actively valuing and leveraging every individual’s unique perspectives, talents and contributions. www.academyofinventors.org 

About UK Innovate
UK Innovate at the University of Kentucky drives economic, societal and entrepreneurial growth from research discoveries. Through technology commercialization, health care innovations, corporate partnerships, social innovation and economic development, UK Innovate helps researchers and entrepreneurs across UK Research and UK HealthCare accelerate their ideas into use. By connecting talent, research, corporate partners and community resources, UK Innovate works to move ideas into the world faster, where they can make the greatest societal and economic impact possible. Learn more: www.research.uky.edu/ukinnovate.

As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 26, 2025) — The presidents of Transylvania University and the University of Kentucky on Wednesday announced an alliance between the two historic institutions to work together on programs and initiatives that will advance the health and well-being of their students and the state.

Transylvania is the first educational partner in the Advancing Kentucky Together Network — an initiative UK announced in October at the direction of its Board of Trustees to work with partners to be the institution that does more than any other in the country to advance the health of the state it serves.

“We exist to serve Kentucky. That has been our mission for 160 years. Now, we are meeting that mission more and more with partners, who share our values and our commitment to progress in advancing the health, education and economy of Kentucky,” said UK President Eli Capilouto. “Today, we are formally joining with Transylvania University, an outstanding institution with nearly 250 years of history, in the shared goal and common commitment to meet the workforce needs of our state and, together, to make our home community of Lexington an even stronger and more vibrant community in which to live.”

"As Kentucky's first university, Transylvania is proud to be the inaugural academic partner in the Advancing Kentucky Together Network,” said Transylvania President Brien Lewis. “This collaboration with the University of Kentucky builds on our long history together and positions us to play a critical role in driving Kentucky forward. Transylvania's partnership with UK in this new network signifies a powerful step for Kentucky's educational future. Together, we'll develop the next generation of leaders, ensuring our students are ready to excel in vital fields."

A memorandum of understanding signed by the two presidents Wednesday morning broadly outlines some of the initiatives the two institutions will jointly pursue. Already, teams of officials at both universities are working on projects including:

• Enabling Transylvania students to seamlessly move from their undergraduate studies into a master’s degree program in the UK College of Public Health.
• Exploring potential outreach efforts in the Fayette County Public Schools.
• Collaborating on education abroad and internship opportunities.
• Sharing information through the institutions’ human resources areas around technology for employee onboarding and training and hiring needs.

The two universities already have a long history of partnership in business, engineering and health care education. An Early Assurance Program helps Transylvania students receive an early acceptance into the UK College of Medicine. Transylvania also partners with UK on a pharmacy (Pharm.D.) program.

But Lewis and Capilouto said this new agreement reinforces the idea that more can and should be done by the two institutions, working together, to advance the overall health of the state. 

Although the state is experiencing significant economic growth and job opportunities, critical shortages exist in a number of areas, including health care. 

UK HealthCare alone projects needing an additional 5,000 health professionals over the next decade to meet growing health needs. Many counties and communities throughout the state lack access to primary care physicians and other health services.

“We believe we are better together,” Capilouto said. “And our communities and the state we serve will be healthier, wealthier and wiser because of our collaboration and partnership.”

"Ultimately, this is about empowering our students and strengthening our community,”  Lewis added. “By combining Transylvania's liberal arts foundation with UK's research and professional programs, we're creating unparalleled opportunities for our students, and enriching the entire Commonwealth with a highly skilled and innovative workforce.”

As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 18, 2024) — The University of Kentucky should work with partners to become the institution that does more than any other in the country to advance the health of the state it serves.

That direction was the driving sentiment of a resolution adopted with strong support Friday by the UK Board of Trustees at the conclusion of its annual retreat.

“As Kentucky’s university, we have the distinctive capacity — and singular opportunity — to do more, to be more, for our state and all those we serve,” said UK Board Chairman Britt Brockman. “We also have a special responsibility to do that in partnership with others — providers and caregivers, community leaders and policymakers -- those who have expertise and perspectives that we don’t have. It is acknowledgment that there is much more that we can do together than we can ever accomplish on our own or apart from one another.”

Specifically, the resolution adopted by the Board of Trustees following more of a day-and-a-half of meetings directed UK President Eli Capilouto and the campus to:

• Develop a specific growth strategy aimed at responding to the health-related workforce needs and shortages in Kentucky.
• Formally launch and expand statewide the Advancing Kentucky Together Network. This is the evolution of the academic health system’s affiliation model, applied not only to providers but to communities — their holistic health, workforce and education needs.
• Formalize, launch and expand deeper connections with communities, the University, UK HealthCare and UK’s Cooperative Extension Service.
• Develop the plan for a second Healthy Kentucky Research Building facility along with the talent necessary to support it.

“Advancing health means continually assessing and addressing the holistic health needs of the state. All of this is predicated on the idea of what we can do together,” said UK President Eli Capilouto. “We are excited about this direction. We believe it speaks to what Kentucky wants and what communities and partners need if we are to do more — together — to advance the health of Kentucky.”

One new initiative resulting from the Board’s resolution is the activation of the Advancing Kentucky Together Network. For more than two decades, UK HealthCare has established and worked with affiliates – hospitals, clinics and providers – across the state to open greater access to specialty care, such as cancer, heart disease and stroke.

The Advancing Kentucky Together Network takes that affiliate model a step further. It will continue to work with providers and partners to increase access to care and help improve clinical outcomes. But it will also work with other partners across the state on other issues related to overall health, such as education and workforce needs and training.

The network will invest millions of dollars in new resources and intellectual property by UK HealthCare as part of the establishment of the new model – health care outcomes, workforce training and education – across the state. The Advancing Kentucky Together Network will start with clinical partnerships and then expand into other areas, depending upon the needs of partners.

Pikeville Medical Center, a long-time partner of UK HealthCare, was announced Friday as the first member of the Network.

“This is the evolution of our affiliation model,” Capilouto said, “applied not only to providers but to communities — their holistic health, workforce and education needs.”

“So much of what we will do to meet this moment returns to the seminal question we have asked so often of ourselves over the last several years: 'Do we care?'” Capilouto told Board members. “The resolution before you resoundingly answers 'Yes.'”

As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.   

In 2022, UK was ranked by Forbes as one of the “Best Employers for New Grads” and named a “Diversity Champion” by INSIGHT into Diversity, a testament to our commitment to advance Kentucky and create a community of belonging for everyone. While our mission looks different in many ways than it did in 1865, the vision of service to our Commonwealth and the world remains the same. We are the University for Kentucky.