The University of Bordeaux once again stands out in the INPI ranking

The ranking of the top 50 INPI patent applicants in 2024 was unveiled at the end of March, and confirmed the strong momentum of public research. The University of Bordeaux retained its position as the second university in terms of the number of patents filed, behind the University of Grenoble-Alpes, and the sixth public institution, behind the CEA (Atomic Energy Commission), the CNRS, IFP Énergies nouvelles, Inserm and therefore the University of Grenoble-Alpes.

These excellent results, confirmed once again, are the fruit of a concrete policy of supporting innovation in all its forms. Patents are not the only way to capitalise on the results of laboratories; they are less suitable for capitalising on the results of the humanities and social sciences (other measures are in place to promote innovation in these fields), but they are a strong indicator of the vigour of a site in terms of innovation.

Antoine Bouteilly, Director of the Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Social and Economic Development Department (DIESE), emphasises the importance of the major programmes InnovationS and PUI (Pôle Universitaire d'Innovation, or University Innovation Cluster) in these results, as well as the excellent work carried out with the Aquitaine Science Transfert university subsidiary to detect, protect, develop and transfer these results. Incentive schemes, such as the patent bonus introduced several years ago, are bearing fruit and maintaining the momentum.

This good result can also be explained by the development of partnerships between laboratories and the socio-economic world. Some of the patents are in fact filed to protect the results of collaborative research (collaboration, CIFRE, Labcom, etc.). When this collaboration generates results that can be protected by patents, the company files but cites the university as co-applicant. The share of these patents co-applied for with companies is increasing, particularly for the disciplines covered by the Engineering and digital sciences and Material and light sciences research departments, adds Antoine Bouteilly.