COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio State University is continuing to build momentum as a leader in research and innovation, rising to No. 21 nationally in the latest patent rankings released by the National Academy of Inventors. The university ranks No. 30 globally.
The university moved up seven spots from the 2024 national rankings, marking a strong year over year gain in the 2025 Top 100 U.S. Universities Granted Utility Patents list released this week. Ohio State also improved its position in the 2025 Top 100 Worldwide Universities Granted Utility Patents ranking, jumping 10 spots from 2024 and signaling continued growth in its global innovation footprint.
“Ohio State is accelerating its upward trajectory as a powerhouse of research and innovation,” said John M. Horack, vice president for research at Ohio State. “Climbing to No. 21 nationally and No. 30 globally in the latest NAI patent rankings is an exciting milestone that showcases the drive of our research community and partners to transform bold ideas into real‑world impact.
That upward movement is backed by the university’s expansive research enterprise, which now totals $1.68 billion annually. From advances in health care and engineering to breakthroughs in artificial intelligence, energyand materials, that work is steadily translating into new technologies with commercial and societal value.
The world rankings, published annually since 2013, offers a global snapshot of university patents, while the U.S. list, introduced more recently, highlights the role American institutions are playing in moving ideas out of the lab and into use. Both rankings draw on data from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
Visit Ohio State’s Research Impact website to learn more about the discoveries, innovations and collaborations across the university, showcasing how faculty, students and partners transform breakthrough research into real‑world impact.