April 26, 2023

Changing lives through inventions: Purdue jumps to the top 5 of global leaders in US patents received

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Purdue University researchers tallied 192 US patents on their inventions in 2022

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Exciting and dynamic inventions discovered and developed by Purdue University researchers are improving people’s lives around the world.

A system that processes agricultural field images for remote phenotype measurements. A 3D printer that continuously prints structures as small as 100 nanometers. A process that produces butylene, propylene and ethylene from natural gas liquids in shale gas. These are just a few influential Purdue innovations that were patented in 2022, further cementing Purdue’s place as a global leader among its peers in protecting intellectual property.

In 2022, Purdue Research Foundation received an impressive 192 patents from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), placing it fifth internationally. The top-five breakthrough comes on the heels of Purdue’s No. 6 ranking in both 2020 and 2021, when it received 175 and 169 patents, respectively. The newest ranking was released Wednesday (April 26).

The reporting includes multiple campuses in the same system as one (e.g., the University of California system, with 10 campuses, and the University of Texas system, with eight campuses), and international universities (e.g., King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia). In terms of single American university campuses, the top 5 are Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Purdue University, Stanford University, Harvard University, and California Institute of Technology.

The information was published in a report from the National Academy of Inventors.

“In achieving our highest annual ranking of U.S. patents so far, Purdue, along with MIT, stand out as single American campuses without medical schools that count among the most active in inventions,” said Purdue President Mung Chiang. “Boilermaker inventors are colleagues and students who translate their knowledge creation through a foundation for direct impact to society. Half of the equation in the recently launched Purdue Innovates is to provide the best support for them to disclose inventions, apply for and receive patents, and license and deploy these patented inventions.” 

The Purdue Research Foundation Office of Technology Commercialization manages the technology transfer process to vet, protect and license innovations developed by university researchers, including filing patent applications. Its technology portfolio covers innovations in subject areas including agriculture, biotechnology, chemistry and chemical analysis, computer technology, engineering, food and nutrition, green technology, micro- and nanotechnologies, and more.

Brian Edelman, president of Purdue Research Foundation said, “Purdue Research Foundation provides resources to support faculty, staff and student researchers across all academic disciplines and campuses who want to commercialize their inventions. These commercialization resources bring this leading-edge and most modern work to the public, where it can strengthen quality of life and economic and workforce development.”

Brooke Beier, senior vice president of Purdue Innovates said, “We wanted to create an ecosystem that embraced all Boilermakers by supporting both Purdue-owned intellectual property and startups that have their own intellectual property but have some other connection to Purdue, such as an alum. Solidifying the university core while engaging and leveraging the Boilermaker network is key to enhancing Purdue’s ability to become the preeminent university in commercialization and startup success.”

Among the 2022 patents were:

• “Augmented reality platform for collaborative classrooms” by Karthik Ramani, the Donald W. Feddersen Distinguished Professor in Mechanical Engineering and professor of electrical and computer engineering, College of Engineering.
• “Collagen compositions and methods of use” by Sherry L. Harbin, professor, College of Engineering and College of Veterinary Medicine.
• “Furniture and methods of storage” by Tong Jin “TJ” Kim, professor, College of Liberal Arts.
• “Immune receptor conferring broad spectrum fungal resistance in sorghum,” Tesfaye D. Mengiste, professor, College of Agriculture.
• “Methods of analyzing crude oil” by Graham Cooks, the Henry B. Hass Distinguished Professor of Analytical Chemistry, College of Science. 
• “Modified glucagon molecules” by Elizabeth M. Topp, professor, College of Engineering and College of Pharmacy.
• “Multichannel pulsed valve inlet system and method” by Hilkka I. Kenttämaa, the Frank Brown Distinguished Professor of Analytical Chemistry and Organic Chemistry, College of Science.
• “Multipurpose solar drying tray assemblies and methods therefor” by Klein Ileleji, associate professor, College of Agriculture and College of Engineering.
• “Multirotor aerial vehicle with automatically rotatable arms” by Xiumin Diao, associate professor, Purdue Polytechnic Institute.
• “Muscle progenitor cells enhance innervation” by Stacey Halum, adjunct associate professor, College of Health and Human Sciences.
• “Proactive customer care in a communication system” by Sonia Fahmy, professor, College of Science.
• “System and method for using a solar cell in wireless communication” by Walter Daniel Leon-Salas, associate professor, Purdue Polytechnic Institute. 

In fiscal year 2022, the Office of Technology Commercialization reported 157 deals finalized with 237 technologies signed, 379 disclosures received and 169 issued U.S. patents.

In the 2022 fiscal year, the Office of Technology Commercialization:

• Received 379 total disclosures from Purdue innovators: 361 invention disclosures and 18 copyright disclosures.
• Filed 699 patent applications with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and international patent organizations.
• Received 239 U.S. and international patents.
• Executed 157 licenses and options.
• Received $6.77 million worth of gross revenue in royalty and licensing income ($4.26 million net).
• Helped establish 9 startup companies.

Since 2001, the Office of Technology Commercialization has:

• Received 6,306 invention disclosures from university researchers.
• Applied for 9,759 patents from U.S. and international organizations.
• Received 2,871 patents from U.S. and international organizations.
• Executed 2,359 licenses for businesses to commercialize Purdue innovations.
• Helped create 288 startups based on Purdue innovations.

From 2006-22, OTC has received more than $84 million in net revenue from licensing activity.

About Purdue University

Purdue University is a top public research institution developing practical solutions to today’s toughest challenges. Ranked in each of the last five years as one of the 10 Most Innovative universities in the United States by U.S. News & World Report, Purdue delivers world-changing research and out-of-this-world discovery. Committed to hands-on and online, real-world learning, Purdue offers a transformative education to all. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue has frozen tuition and most fees at 2012-13 levels, enabling more students than ever to graduate debt-free. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap at https://purdue.edu/.

About Purdue Research Foundation Office of Technology Commercialization

The Purdue Research Foundation Office of Technology Commercialization operates one of the most comprehensive technology transfer programs among leading research universities in the U.S. Services provided by this office support the economic development initiatives of Purdue University and benefit the university’s academic activities through commercializing, licensing and protecting Purdue intellectual property. In fiscal year 2022, the office reported 157 deals finalized with 237 technologies signed, 379 disclosures received and 169 issued U.S. patents. The office is managed by the Purdue Research Foundation, which received the 2019 Innovation and Economic Prosperity Universities Award for Place from the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities. In 2020, IPWatchdog Institute ranked Purdue third nationally in startup creation and in the top 20 for patents. The Purdue Research Foundation is a private, nonprofit foundation created to advance the mission of Purdue University. Contact otcip@prf.org for more information.

Writer/Media contact: Steve Martin, sgmartin@prf.org