President Meehan says innovative and committed faculty places UMass on prestigious global list
BOSTON -- For the second year in a row, the University of Massachusetts ranked among The World's Most Innovative Universities, jumping five spots to 52nd, in the influential ranking.
The Reuters Top 100: The World's Most Innovative Universities ranks the educational institutions doing the most to "advance science, invent new technologies and help drive the global economy." Universities are judged exclusively on empirical data such as patent filings and faculty research.
The top three in the worldwide ranking were Stanford University, MIT and Harvard University.
"These rankings show that UMass scholarship and innovation is held in high esteem throughout the world and reflect the University's commitment to excellence," President Marty Meehan said. "Our faculty is producing breakthroughs on many fronts and could unlock treatments and cures for deadly and debilitating diseases like ALS -- and is also on the front lines in the battle against climate change. We are among the most innovative universities in the world because we are fortunate enough to have one of the most innovative and committed faculties in the world."
Reuters said the universities that fared well in its second annual compendium of the most innovative higher education institutions were those that have made an enduring commitment to research and innovation.
"According to our findings, consistency is key, with truly innovative institutions putting out groundbreaking work year after year," the international news service said.
UMass has grown into a research power and now conducts $629 million in research and development, which places it among the top three research universities in the state, along with MIT and Harvard.
The University was awarded a record 66 U.S. patents in Fiscal Year 2016. UMass ranked among the top universities granted U.S. patents in calendar year 2015, placing 24th in the nation, 30th in the world, and third in New England.
UMass Board of Trustee Chairman Victor Woolridge said that it is gratifying to see the excellence of the University recognized both nationally and internationally. "Our leadership in education and research is a tremendous asset to the Commonwealth and its residents. We are at the forefront of the biosciences and sparking innovation in many emerging fields that have economic benefits across the state."
UMass ranked in the Top 200 in the recently released 2016-2017 Times Higher Education World University Rankings, which rated 980 institutions globally. UMass placed first among New England public universities and 29th among all U.S. public institutions. These annual rankings are considered to be one of the most influential rankings of universities internationally.
Contact: Jan Brogan 617-287-4027 or 781-467-9900