The National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI) published on April 25, 2024, the 2023 ranking of the main patent applicants. Ten public research structures are ranked in the top 50, including Université Grenoble Alpes (UGA), the first university to be ranked, which reaches 4th place behind the Atomic Energy and Alternative Energies Commission (CEA) in 4th place and the National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS) in 7th place, thus recognizing the strength of public research for innovation.

"In 2023, patent applications experienced a historic increase of 5.6%. This is good news. The 2023 edition of the ranking of patent applicants in France shows that the concentration of filings remains strong and highlights the significant innovation capacity of our national champions," comments Pascal Faure, General Director of the INPI.

Historically recognized for its excellence in research and innovation, UGA once again distinguishes itself by ranking in the ranking alongside the largest innovative French companies. Resulting from its research valorization policy, this performance reflects its strategic ambition to develop a culture of innovation for the impact of public research. It is the result of a strategic action plan aimed at increasing partnerships with socio-economic and cultural actors as well as transfers for the benefit of companies and society. Since January 1, 2021, an innovation and transfer service unit, ITO@UGA, provides the best service to research units and their staff. Finally, let's recall that UGA has been labeled FITInnovE University Innovation Pole in order to structure all the actors of the territory in public research, higher education, valorization, and transfer to accelerate the innovation dynamics in its territories.

Methodology of the ranking

The ranking of patent applicants at the INPI in 2023 covers the number of patent applications filed by legal entities between January 1, 2023, and December 31, 2023. Utility certificate applications and provisional applications are also counted. This ranking records only patent applications filed with the INPI, so these are national route applications: the majority are first filings, but some filings are requests under foreign priority. European applications (EP) and international applications (PCT) seeking protection in French territory are not counted. The address considered in this ranking is that of the applicant, not the inventor. The purpose of this ranking is to accurately reflect the activity of companies in terms of patent filings with the INPI.