USF among top patented schools

A lot of innovation is happening at the University of South Florida — so much that two intellectual property groups say the school is among the world's elite for the fifth year in a row.

A new report from the National Academy of Inventors and the Intellectual Property Owners Association says USF received 104 patents last year, based on U.S. Patent and Trademark Office data. That made it tops in Florida, 10th in the nation, and 13th in the world.

Three other Florida schools followed USF in the national rankings, with the University of Florida Research Foundation 15th with 87 patents; the University of Central Florida at 23rd with 66 patents; and Florida State University, 52nd with 30 patents. The University of California is tops in the world with 453 utility patents, followed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology at 275.