Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) has been ranked 50th on the National Academy of Inventors' (NAI) 2025 Top 100 U.S. Universities Granted U.S. Utility Patents list, reaffirming the Institute's commitment to innovation and the translation of cutting-edge research into real-world impact. 

Released annually, the NAI ranking recognizes U.S. academic institutions that play a significant role in advancing innovation by securing patents and protecting their intellectual property. Universities on this year's list collectively secured more than 6,700 patents during the 2025 calendar year. 

"This recognition speaks directly to the caliber of research happening across every corner of our campus," said Jonathan Dordick, Ph.D., Vice President of RPI's Office of Strategic Alliances and Translation. "Our faculty, researchers, and students are tackling some of the most complex challenges of our time in biotechnology, semiconductor and materials design, computing, and energy infrastructure. RPI innovators’ ability to translate that work into patented technologies demonstrates both the depth and the real-world relevance of what we do here at RPI.” 

The Top 100 U.S. Universities list was introduced by NAI in 2023 to provide a focused view of the national innovation landscape and complements the organization's long-running Top 100 Worldwide Universities ranking, which has been published since 2013. 

RPI's placement on this list reflects the Institute's ongoing success in moving discoveries from the laboratory to the marketplace, creating tangible benefits for society and the broader economy. Forty-four patents were issued to RPI in 2025. 

"These universities and their inventive faculty are at the forefront of driving national innovation and competitiveness," said Dr. Paul R. Sanberg, President of the National Academy of Inventors. "By moving their ideas to market and protecting their IP with patents, these institutions are ensuring that the U.S. not only remains competitive on the global stage, but directly shapes the future of innovation."