The University of Utah ranks among the top 10 U.S. universities in several key research commercialization measures, based on data from the AUTM 2025 Annual Survey.

Research commercialization moves discoveries beyond the lab and into the world through products, treatments, services, licenses, and startups. The U’s performance is especially notable because it is achieving results comparable to larger research institutions while operating with a smaller research expenditure base, a sign of the strength and efficiency of Utah’s innovation ecosystem.

The U placed among the nation’s leaders in five key measures:

• No. 5 in invention disclosures: New discoveries submitted by faculty, researchers, and students for potential protection or commercialization.
• No. 5 in licenses executed: Agreements that allow external partners to use or commercialize university-developed technologies.
• No. 4 in copyright licenses: Licenses covering software, data, educational materials, creative works, and other tangible property.
• No. 9 in gross license income: Revenue from licensing activity, including royalties and equity-related returns.
• No. 3 in new licensed technologies: Technologies licensed to external partners for the first time.

A growing pipeline, built for impact

The survey results highlight both the U’s current performance and its potential for continued growth. The university’s research enterprise is expanding, creating a larger pipeline of discoveries with the potential to reach the marketplace and benefit the public.

As research activity grows, it can generate more ideas, invention disclosures, partnerships, licenses, and startups—strengthening the U’s ability to shape industries and improve lives.

“These benchmarks reflect the strength of the University of Utah’s innovation ecosystem and the faculty, researchers, and partners who help move discoveries toward real-world impact,” said Jason Young, senior director of commercialization.

The AUTM survey results add to a series of national recognitions for the University of Utah’s innovation ecosystem. The U has also recently been named among the top 100 universities globally for U.S. utility patents, No. 1 for producing unicorn founders, and recognized as one of the nation’s top universities for biomedical innovation. Together, these distinctions reflect growing momentum across the university’s innovation pipeline.

That impact can be seen in examples from the past year:

• Propelling clean energy: Geothermal Strategy Partners helps developers plan and build next-generation geothermal projects.
• Helping bones heal: The CoAptix S system keeps steady pressure on healing bones, helping reduce complications and support recovery.
• Cutting electronic waste: EnduraCure is developing flexible electronics materials that can be broken down so valuable parts can be recovered instead of discarded.
• Helping people avoid unhealthy air: Trace AQ’s Flow AQ app provides four-day forecasts and personalized alerts so people can plan around hazardous conditions.
• Improving EV charging: Grid Elevated’s IntelliCharge platform uses AI to balance charging demand, helping make EV infrastructure more reliable, efficient, and scalable.
• Fighting brain cancer: CaLycia Bioscience is developing engineered immune-cell therapies designed to target aggressive brain and spine cancers from within.

What the results mean for Utah

For faculty and researchers, the results point to more opportunities to translate discoveries into practical applications. For industry partners and investors, they signal access to a strong environment for bringing research discoveries to market. For the state, they demonstrate the University of Utah’s growing role in building Utah’s innovation economy.

As the U’s research enterprise expands, so does its capacity to turn discovery into public benefit, economic growth, and solutions to pressing challenges. The 2025 AUTM survey results show that the university’s commercialization efforts are already performing at a national level—and are positioned to make an even greater impact in the years ahead.