Powered by world-class faculty who are leaders and inventors in their fields, Florida’s Premier Engineering and Technology University now ranks among the top 20 U.S. public universities for utility patents granted.
UCF ranks No. 51 overall in the world and No. 20 among U.S. public universities in a National Academy of Inventors (NAI) list announced today.
Patents play a crucial role in fostering innovation and protecting intellectual property, enabling universities like UCF to transform groundbreaking research into real-world applications. UCF’s high ranking by the NAI highlights its significant contributions to global technological advancements and its commitment to driving positive change worldwide. Developing patents also underscores UCF’s reputation for innovation. UCF has ranked as the most innovative university in Florida for seven consecutive years, according to U.S. News & World Report.
“UCF’s high ranking amongst top patent producing public universities in the U.S. and worldwide underscores our exceptionally talented and innovative researchers,” says Winston V. Schoenfeld, UCF’s vice president for research and innovation. “Each year, we continue to rise through the rankings, demonstrating the continued growth of our research enterprise and commitment to developing technologies that have global value. It’s been incredibly gratifying to see our researchers’ hard work culminate into patents that propel science and ultimately change the world.”
Read article from UCF Today.
By Mikita Nayee and Eddy Duryea ’13 | March 11, 2025
Energy-storing Fibers for Use in Electric Vehicles
Lead researcher: Associate Professor Jayan Thomas
NanoScience Technology Center
This patent details a method for storing energy in the carbon fiber-based electric vehicle body panels. Carbon fiber is a strong and lightweight material used in vehicle construction. The carbon fiber panels are designed to function as structural components as well as energy storage devices, increasing the energy density and efficiency of electric vehicles. Compared to traditional batteries, this approach integrates energy storage directly into the vehicle structure, potentially reducing weight and improving space utilization.
Quantum Cascade Laser to Convert Electrical Energy into Infrared Light
Lead researcher: Associate Professor Arkadiy Lyakh
NanoScience Technology Center
This patent introduces a Quantum Cascade Laser (QCL) designed for high efficiency. A QCL is a type of laser that emits infrared light. The new QCL structure maximizes the conversion of electrical energy into infrared light. Compared to previous QCL designs, this new structure is optimized to minimize energy loss during the conversion process, leading to improved efficiency. The improved efficiency reduces power consumption and improves thermal management. This efficient QCL can be used in spectroscopy (analyzing light spectra), gas sensing and free-space communications, making it useful in various scientific and industrial fields where power consumption is a key consideration. This technology is licensed to a UCF startup company.