Georgia Tech has solidified its reputation as a frontrunner in research commercialization, achieving impressive rankings in the 2026 AUTM Licensing Activity Survey. The institution secured the No. 6 spot for invention disclosures with a total of 454 disclosures and the No. 8 position for new patent applications with 230 filings. Additionally, Georgia Tech ranked No. 12 in the number of issued U.S. patents with 124 granted. The AUTM survey is recognized as the premier benchmark for academic technology transfer and commercialization activities in the United States.
The latest rankings are a testament to Georgia Tech’s record-breaking year in commercialization. In 2026, the Institute advanced hundreds of technologies toward the marketplace, achieving unprecedented levels of invention disclosures, issued patents, and licensed technologies. These milestones underscore Georgia Tech’s expanding role in transforming research discoveries into products, companies, and partnerships that create economic and societal value.
Strategic Focus on Practical Applications
Raghupathy ‘Siva’ Sivakumar chief commercialization officer at Georgia Tech, emphasized that the strong performance reflects a commercialization strategy focused on protecting intellectual property and helping researchers translate discoveries into practical applications. ‘Whether through licensing technologies, launching startups, or partnering with industry, we are building pathways that help researchers transform discoveries into real-world solutions,’ Sivakumar stated.
Georgia Tech’s innovations are reaching users and markets in increasingly diverse ways, spanning advanced health technologies, environmental monitoring tools, and next-generation aerospace ventures. This diverse impact is exemplified by startups like Kinemo and Skopii which have emerged from Georgia Tech research to address critical needs in mobility and environmental monitoring.
Innovative Startups Driving Impact
Kinemo a startup developed through Georgia Tech research, is empowering individuals with limited mobility to regain independence through wearable assistive technology. Founded by researchers from the College of Engineering, Kinemo utilizes physiological sensing and small intentional movements to enable users to control digital devices. The company collaborates closely with clinicians and patients at Shepherd Center to refine the technology and expand accessibility for individuals living with spinal cord injuries and mobility limitations.
Another notable example is Skopii a startup launched from research in the lab of environmental engineering professor Ameet Pinto. Skopii is commercializing portable imaging and artificial intelligence technology that enables rapid analysis of microorganisms in water and environmental systems, eliminating the need for lengthy laboratory testing. This technology has the potential to improve decision-making for water utilities, food production systems, and environmental monitoring efforts.
Transforming Research into Real-World Solutions
As research institutions face increasing pressure to demonstrate impact beyond publications and laboratory discoveries, Georgia Tech continues to showcase how world-class research can translate into technologies, startups, jobs, and solutions that improve lives. The latest AUTM rankings provide another measure of that success, highlighting an innovation ecosystem that consistently moves ideas from the lab to the marketplace.
Startups such as Kinemo and Skopii illustrate the broader commercialization approach reflected in Georgia Tech’s AUTM rankings. By focusing on practical applications and real-world solutions, Georgia Tech is not only advancing technology but also creating economic and societal value.
