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CUHK Among Top 100 Worldwide Universities Granted U.S. Utility Patents in 2020
The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) ranked among the top 100 worldwide universities granted U.S. utility patents in 2020, according to the report released on 15 June by the National Academy of Inventors (NAI) and the Intellectual Property Owners Association (IPO). The report stated that, with 37 U.S. utility patents issued in 2020, CUHK ranked 79 out of 100, and is one of the two local institutions on the list. The report uses data obtained from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and highlights the vital role patents play in university research and innovation.
Professor Zee Chung-ying, Benny, Director of the Office of Research and Knowledge Transfer Services at CUHK, said, “Scientists conduct research and develop all kinds of new technologies to solve world problems and promote social development. Obtaining patents for innovative inventions is an important step in putting scientific research results into practice in real life. I believe that CUHK’s ability to rank among the top 100 worldwide universities granted U.S. utility patents symbolises the unremitting efforts of CUHK researchers to contribute to mankind through innovation and invention.”
“In all jurisdictions worldwide, the number of patents granted to CUHK was 257 in 2019/20. CUHK has had the highest number of granted patents amongst all the Universities in Hong Kong since 2017/18 for 3 consecutive years. We will continue to promote research excellence at CUHK,” added Professor Zee.
CUHK’s U.S. utility patents issued in 2020 cover various technologies including diagnostics, therapeutics, medical devices, stem cell research, telecommunication, and mechanical engineering.
There are 55 Member Institutions of the NAI represented this year in the Top 100. They hold an aggregate total of 4,864 patents spanning a wide variety of fields, such as medicine, technology, and engineering. The IPO Top 300 Patent Owners List, published annually since 1985, ranks organisations worldwide that received the most U.S. utility patents during the previous calendar year. This year’s report lists the total number of patents for 2020’s Top 100 universities (including U.S. and international universities) to be 7,734.
About the National Academy of Inventors
The National Academy of Inventors (NAI) is a member organisation comprising U.S. and international universities, and governmental and non-profit research institutes, with over 4,000 individual inventor members and Fellows spanning more than 250 institutions worldwide. Professor Rocky S. Tuan, Vice-Chancellor and President of CUHK, is a Fellow of NAI, elected in 2017.
NAI was founded in 2010 to recognise and encourage inventors with patents issued from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), increase 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 NAI works collaboratively with the USPTO and publishes the multidisciplinary journal, Technology and Innovation.
About the IPO
The Intellectual Property Owners Association (IPO) is a trade association for owners of patents, trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets. IPO is the only association in the U.S. that serves and advocates for all intellectual property owners in all industries and all fields of technology.
