City University of Hong Kong (CityU) shines once again in the 2021 top 100 universities granted US utility patents by the National Academy of Inventors (NAI). CityU is placed 29th in the world, the highest-ever position and 22 places better than last year. Furthermore, CityU is ranked 1st among local institutions for the 6th consecutive year.

Under the leadership of President Way Kuo of CityU, the University advocates “the integration of teaching and research” to align with world-class universities. It is committed to promoting a knowledge-based economy and has become an innovation hub for research and professional education. As of August 2022, CityU has applied for more than 1,250 patents for technologies around the globe, of which 701 have been granted.

President Kuo expressed his pride in CityU’s remarkable achievements in innovation. “Driven by the synergy of top-notch research output and groundbreaking entrepreneurship programmes, CityU has become one of the world’s most innovative universities. Our pace of innovation will continue to accelerate and further contribute to society,” he said.

CityU’s outstanding innovation and research capabilities have been repeatedly recognised. For example, CityU won 22 awards at the Inventions Geneva Evaluation Days 2022, the highest number of awards among local universities, while over 170 faculty members were among Stanford University’s list of the world’s top 2% most-cited scientists in 2021. Compared to faculty size, it makes CityU faculty the three best-performing academics in Asia. Furthermore, the impact of CityU’s research is reflected in the tripling of knowledge transfer income over the past few years.

Founded in 2010, NAI comprises members from international universities, and governmental and non-governmental organisations, among others. It encourages inventors to register innovative creations and intellectual property in order to educate and mentor world-class students and enable members’ inventions to benefit society. Since 2013, NAI has ranked the top 100 universities worldwide for the highest number of utility patents granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. CityU has obtained the most US patents among local universities for the past six consecutive years.