Ural Federal University: UrFU Ranked in the Top 3 of Russian Universities by Number of Patents

In the latest ranking of the Expert-RA analytical center, Ural Federal University took third place among Russian universities by the number of patents. The university showed such a result due to a significant increase in the quality of inventions, in particular the increase in the number of “sold” patents. UrFU also has the largest number of collaborations with scientific and industrial organizations. It attracted 16 partners for creation of patent developments, according to analysts of the ranking agency.

“The breakthrough in the commercialization of patents was facilitated by three key changes in the management of the results of intellectual activity. Firstly, the demand for engineering competencies of universities in general and UrFU in particular has increased. Secondly, it is a result of the state policy, in which universities become the recipients of state financial support only in cooperation with companies, and this is how scientific and educational centers (SEC) work. Thirdly, we are strongly stimulated by participation in competitions. Thus, we came to the conclusion that the university’s inventive activity is determined by its competences, connections with enterprises, and significant changes in intellectual property management procedures,” says Sergey Kortov, First Vice Rector of UrFU.

UrFU has risen in the 2022 ranking by seven positions at once. The main areas of research of the university scientists are aimed at countering threats to society, the economy and the state (1-2nd place among all universities), the development of advanced technologies (3rd place), the transition to clean resource-saving energy (4th place). The increase in the rate of commercialization of patents indicates the growth of companies’ interest in the technologies created by the university.