Inventing is core to the university's commitment to pursuing solutions to grand challenges. The National Academy of Inventors has named Professor Jennifer Barton, Thomas R. Brown Distinguished Chair of Biomedical Engineering and Director of the BIO5 Institute; and Associate Professor Euan McLeod as Senior Members of its newest cohort of 162 honorees from across the nation.

A University of Arizona seed fund designed to help launch startups from the innovations of faculty, staff, students and alumni has surpassed its initial goal of $2 million after just a year of fundraising, and will now enter the phase of making investments.

"Forever chemicals" PFAS and PFOA have been proven to be detrimental to the environment and human health. Professor Jeong-Yool Yoon has developed a new, low-cost method for detecting these chemicals using smartphone technology, machine learning and the cloud.

Based on 82 proposals received, the foundation made awards to a total of ten Arizona research teams that demonstrated maximum potential to translate their findings into viable and impactful products and treatments. Seven of the ten hail from the University of Arizona.

In late 2024, the Patent Public Advisory Committee (PPAC) of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) submitted its fiscal year 2024 annual report to the President of the United States. U of A inventor and Regents Professor Marvin Slepian serves on the nine-member committee and penned the section of the report about the role of artificial intelligence in patenting and innovation.

Applications for the 2025 IdeaFunding pitch competition are now live. Entrepreneurs and early-stage Arizona companies must submit applications by 11:59 p.m. on Jan. 14, 2025.