The University of Montpellier well placed in the regional ranking of patent applicants at INPI

At the beginning of April 2024, INPI, the public body responsible for registering and issuing industrial property titles, published its traditional regional ranking of the top patent applicants in 2023. This study sheds light on innovation leaders at national level, with patents constituting one of the key indicators of knowledge production by companies and public establishments. This year, in Occitanie, the University of Montpellier occupies second place in this ranking as a public institution, as well as 7th position overall and regionally, with the filing of 27 patents in 2023. The ENSCM (Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Chimie de Montpellier), for its part, occupies a strong5th place as a public institution, with 14 patents filed.

A ranking specific to innovation in France

The INPI (Institut National de la Propriété Industrielle) regional ranking is an annual ranking that highlights the most innovative players in France, region by region, based on the number of patents filed. It highlights the companies, research centers and universities that contribute to the technological development and competitiveness of their region. The rankings enable us to track the development of innovation and stimulate regional dynamics in terms of industrial property.

The University of Montpellier has a strong presence in Occitania

With the UM in second place in the region (and in 7th place overall), and the ENSCM in5th place, Montpellier confirms its progress and influence in the innovation sector.

These figures are the result of a well-defined innovation strategy and a research-rich environment. Several key factors explain this success, including the proximity of several prestigious research institutes, such as CNRS, Inserm and Inrae, which regularly collaborate with UM researchers to develop projects with high innovative potential.

UM places particular emphasis on academic research and its transfer to industry. It has put in place tools to encourage researchers and teacher-researchers to file patents, while stimulating innovation within its ecosystem. The creation of its Pôle Universitaire d'Innovation (PUI) in 2021 aims to further strengthen these dynamics by facilitating collaboration between public research and private enterprise. For example, projects such as Terratis, which fights the tiger mosquito, have seen the light of day thanks to this initiative.

Finally, the UM is particularly active in fields such as healthcare and biotechnology, where it has filed several patents for innovative medicines and medical devices. These sectors are strategic and produce tangible results, often monetized through operating licenses. These ongoing efforts, supported by local and international collaborations, make the University of Montpellier a key player in innovation in France.

The University of Montpellier has also distinguished itself in a number of international rankings.

In addition to the INPI ranking, this summer the UM consolidated its position in the top 200 of the Shanghai ranking, as well as in THE Ranking Impact, which measures the commitment and performance of higher education establishments in terms of sustainable development. In its 6th edition, the UM maintains its position as the leading French institution and is ranked among the 101-200 best institutions worldwide for its long-standing commitment to sustainable development. This year, it features in the world's top 50 for 2 objectives, in line with the establishment's major themes: food, care and protection. UM stands out on the "health and well-being" Sustainable Development Goal (SDG), ranking 30th worldwide and1st in France. The UM made great strides on the "aquatic life" SDG, ranking 30th worldwide and1st in France, once again demonstrating its excellence in the field of ecology.

The University of Montpellier maintains its status in the CWTS Leiden Ranking. This ranking, which provides important information on the scientific performance of over 1,500 major universities worldwide, is based on scientific publications and their citations. In the 2024 world ranking, the University of Montpellier once again confirms its scientific influence at both national and international level, with a4th place in France (first provincial university) and a 203rd place worldwide.

According to the Reuters ranking of the most innovative universities, the University of Montpellier ranks second in France and 17th in Europe.