Small Times Magazine (May/June 2005)

Rice University is “at the top of the class” in several categories for furthering nanotechnology. These findings were published in a recent article in Small Times Magazine (May/June 2005 edition).

Small Times sent a survey to over 100 U.S. universities in early 2005 and developed a university ranking from the responses. They measured universities in five separate categories: research, educational opportunities, resources, commercialization and industry outreach. The rankings also included peer input to determine the strongest programs in research and commercialization. The article only listed the Top 5 universities in each category.

How did Rice University do?

We placed in the Top 5 universities in 3 out of the 7 categories reported! Only two other universities surveyed had more Top 5 placements.


These are the areas where Rice was “at the top of the class”

Category                                    Ranking

Facilities                                   Number 2

Commercialization                    Number 1

Peer/Commercialization           Number 4 (based on peer evaluation)

The article pointed out the strength Rice University has created by emphasizing its nanotechnology programs through the Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology. Funding of over $30 million in 2004 has led to the creation of research programs and facilities that are at the leading edge of nanotechnology efforts throughout the world.

The survey also showed that Rice is leading efforts in commercialization of nanotechnology, which Small Times defined as creating “innovations that lead to new or better products or processes”. This category included evaluations on patenting activity, licensing deals and company formation. Rice has created the right combination of nanotechnology research focus, supported by a “collaborative business school and administrative environment,” to generate a large number of nanotechnology patents and several business startups. According to the peer evaluation, even other universities recognized that Rice University stands out in the commercialization effort for nanotechnology.

A separate article in the Innovations Section of the May/June 2005 Small Times Magazine recognized Rice University as having the top growth rate in nano patents issued in 2004. The Rice University portfolio strength was tops in the US, ranking above even the entire University of California system.

We are proud of where we stand today and we are committed to staying at the leading edge of nanotechnology!