Faculty help U of A break invention record, again

The latest report from Tech Launch Arizona found that faculty and researchers at the University of Arizona reported 324 invention disclosures in fiscal year 2025 — an all time record. This number beats the previous record of 307 set last year. 

"We measure the university's inventiveness and engagement by invention disclosures," said Doug Hockstad, associate vice president of Tech Launch Arizona. "Each time an employee – whether they're a faculty member, researcher, graduate student or other staff member – comes to our team with an invention, they fill out a simple form, and that's when the commercialization process begins."

The U of A ranked 31st globally on the National Academy of Inventors' list of the top 100 universities granted utility patents, with 18% of those patents resulting from the work of College of Engineering affiliates. Many of these inventions are licensed and distributed through startup companies, such as iMagine Design, which TLA helped launch this year. 

iMagine leverages technologies from U of A faculty, including AME associate professor Kavan Hazeli of the College of Engineering and the BIO5 Institute. iMagine harnesses diagnostic intelligence for clinicians to correlate symptoms with changes in mobility to improve treatment and intervention decisions in health care.

"Transforming research into societal benefit requires more than great ideas, it demands trusted partnerships and a shared commitment to progress," said Tomás Díaz de la Rubia, senior vice president for research and partnerships. "Arizona's momentum reflects a deep collaboration across the university and with external partners who help bring discoveries to life in ways that strengthen communities, fuel economic vitality and create lasting public value."