By Althea Johnson, University Communications and Marketing
The University of South Florida has reaffirmed its position as one of the nation's most innovative research institutions, earning a place for the 13th consecutive year among the top 20 public universities for producing U.S. utility patents. According to annual rankings released today by the National Academy of Inventors, USF ranks No. 18 among U.S. public research universities, based on the 81 new patents secured in 2025. The university also places No. 27 among all U.S. public or private universities and No. 41 among universities worldwide.
The new rankings demonstrate USF's long‑standing strength in research, invention and commercialization. Patent production is a key indicator that USF is translating academic research into products and technologies that provide practical applications benefitting society.
"At the University of South Florida, we are dedicated to fostering an environment where innovation thrives and where our discoveries have a meaningful impact on our region, our state, our nation and globally," USF President Rhea Law said. "This achievement reflects the creativity of our world-class faculty, staff and students, whose transformative ideas are shaping the future."
The three universities in the Florida High Tech Corridor - USF, the University of Florida and the University of Central Florida - collectively secured 285 patents, placing the corridor ahead of nationally recognized centers of innovation, including North Carolina's Research Triangle and the University of Texas System.
Below are some of USF's 2025 patent highlights:
[Photo courtesy of USF Professor Gray Mullins]
Gray Mullins, a professor in the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, and post-doctoral researcher Tristen Mee have invented a measurement system that verifies the dimensions of concrete foundations while they are being poured, eliminating the long delays of current temperature‑based testing methods. Using a motor-controlled cable with a probe on the end, along with sensors that track the probe's movement and tension as it touches the top of the concrete while filling the excavation site, construction crews can detect and correct issues during the pour instead of days later, improving efficiency, safety and overall quality.
[Photo courtesy of USF Innovative Education]
A multidisciplinary team of USF researchers has developed a new way to measure pain in newborns following surgery. The invention uses a camera and microphone to record a baby's face, body movements and sounds, then applies advanced machine‑learning techniques to analyze these signals and the vital signals. If parts of the baby's face or body are blocked from view, the system can reconstruct the missing information using a generative model and combine all available signals to estimate the baby's pain level continuously and objectively. This produces a real‑time pain score that helps clinicians recognize postoperative pain earlier, reduce reliance on opioids and improve care for vulnerable infants who cannot communicate their discomfort.
Yu Zhang, a professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and program director of Advanced Air Mobility at the Center for Urban Transportation Research, has developed a smart computer system that uses advanced artificial intelligence to help manage air traffic at multiple airports. It tracks detailed, map-based weather data, learns how weather affects airport operations and produces real-time predictions that air traffic controllers can use to more accurately predict which runways each airport should use and how many planes they can safely handle each hour.
"USF's continued success as one of the nation's top producers of U.S. utility patents reflects the unwavering creativity, dedication and impact of our research community," said USF Provost Prasant Mohapatra. "Each patent represents a solution that improves lives here in Florida and around the world."
The Top 100 Worldwide Universities Granted U.S. Utility Patents in 2025 report from the National Academy of Inventors uses data from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in the previous calendar year and highlights the vital role patents play in not only university research and innovation, but in the global knowledge economy. Read the full report.
