2025 has been one of the U’s strongest years for innovation and commercialization, with both the University and its researchers ranking among the top in the nation. The Technology Licensing Office’s 2025 Annual Innovation Report highlights the patents issued, startups launched, and outstanding innovators recognized locally and globally for their work.

A Top-Tier Translational Institution

The Technology Licensing Office’s (TLO) 2025 Annual Innovation Report highlights the groundbreaking research and innovation that’s happened at the University of Utah this past year. In 2025, the U ranked within the top five among peer research universities for copyright licenses issued, licensing revenue, invention disclosures, and U.S. patents issued.

Additionally, the University of Utah ranked second in the nation in universities with the highest likelihood of producing unicorn companies. Utah has always been known for its innovative spirit, and this stellar ranking speaks to the success of our local entrepreneurial and innovative ecosystem.

Further marking this year as one of innovation and commercialization, the U was added to the National Academy of Inventors’ top 100 universities worldwide for U.S. patent grants. The University of Utah is the only institution in the state to earn a place on this prestigious list, and this achievement demonstrates the U’s commitment to innovation and translational research.

The 2025 Annual Innovation Report also acknowledges the six University of Utah-founded startups that have launched this year:

• Trace Air Quality – An air quality forecasting startup on a mission to provide in-advance air quality information to help local users adapt to various air quality hazards.
• Sethera Therapeutics – A cutting-edge peptide therapeutics company working to integrate AI onto their unique mRNA display platform.
• NephroNovus – A therapeutics startup developing safe and effective treatments for chronic kidney disease and obesity by targeting fibrosis and metabolic dysfunction.
• Proxima – A startup on a mission to expand education access to create a constant flow of work-ready healthcare professionals by creating personalized career plans and connecting individuals with the support and resources they need throughout a job placement and career advancement process.
• Metrdy – A startup creating a searchable database of antibody titrations that helps scientists quickly find optimal antibodies for their experiments and allows researchers to directly compare suppliers, clones, fluorophores, and cost per sample.
• 4D Surgical – A groundbreaking company creating a new paradigm in surgery by combining live vision from advanced medical imaging and robotics, enabling a new era of minimally invasive care for significant health problems.

Locally and Globally Recognized Researchers

While the University of Utah further established itself as a strong research and innovation institution in 2025, university researchers were recognized locally and globally for their efforts to solve prevalent issues in groundbreaking ways.

The TLO’s Annual Innovation Report recognizes ten U of U researchers for outstanding dedication to translational research from this year’s Innovation Awards. All recipients have reflected the University of Utah’s commitment to groundbreaking research and innovation.

One of those innovators, Wes Sundquist, was also involved in TIME’s Best Inventions of 2025 for a decade of study and collaborative work with Gilead Inc. in HIV prevention. TIME recognizes Lenacapavir, the HIV preventative drug Sundquist has devoted so many years of study to. Learn more here.

Additionally, five U of U startups ranked in the Utah Business Innovation Awards and the Mountain West Capital Network Utah 100 List. TELLUS Networked Sensor Solutions Inc., Trace AQ, and Biologic Input Output Systems (BIOS) placed in the cleantech and healthcare categories. Techcyte and Recursion Pharmaceuticals ranked in Mountain West’s Utah 100 list, signifying all five companies’ strong entrepreneurial spirit and their cutting-edge technology. Learn more here.

Growing Support for Innovators

Innovation support opportunities also became more accessible to researchers at the U this year with the launch and/or update of the Pathfinder Program, the U’s Startup Launchpad, Tech Discovery Microgrants, Ascender Grants, the Launchpad Seed Fund, and U of U Ventures. Learn more about these funding opportunities here or access this year’s Annual Innovation Report, which contains a simple, easy guide to the TLO’s resources and support.

Note: This story originally appeared on the Technology Licensing Office’s website.