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USF Research & Innovation supports the University of South Florida (USF). The mission of the organization is to maximize the research and innovation success of USF faculty, students, and staff while adhering to all required standards of research administration. The USF Research & Innovation organization supports all the USF campuses, which include Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Sarasota-Manatee.Sylvia Wilson Thomas, Ph.D., is the interim vice president who reports to the president of the university.
In 2022, USF ranked eleventh among American public research universities and twenty-third among all universities worldwide in generating new patents by the National Academy of Inventors (NAI) and the Intellectual Property Owners Association(IPO). USF was also ranked in the Top 20 American Universities for technology transfer by the Milken Institute. In 2021, the university had ninety-eight license and option agreements and eleven new start-up companies and was awarded a record $568.1 million in research contracts and grants.
USF Research & Innovation supports a broad range of technology categories, including medical, electronics, computer science, energy and environment, engineering, cancer, software, data, and artificial intelligence. The medical research and innovations include work in medical devices, pharmaceuticals, neuroscience, biotechnology, infectious diseases, medical diagnostics, surgery, cell and tissue engineering, endocrinology, therapeutics, respiratory, and medical imaging. Other technology research and innovations include work in telecommunications; lasers; nanotechnology; sensors; transportation; cybersecurity; agriculture; energy, mechanical, chemical, industrial, and marine engineering; cancer diagnostics; and multimedia.
The USF Research & Innovation organization has several departments, including the Office of the Vice President, Sponsored Research, Technology Transfer, USF Research Foundation & USF Research Park, USF CONNECT, Research Integrity and Compliance, Comparative Medicine, Research Shared Services, and Information Services.
Technology Transfer facilitates the commercialization of the University's intellectual property, including patents, copyrights, and trademarks. The USF Research Foundation promotes the research activities of university faculty, staff, and students and manages the USF Research Park in Tampa’s Innovation Place adjacent to the USF Tampa campus.
USF CONNECT supports local start-ups and entrepreneurs with meaningful programming and a place to connect. Its incubation programs provide state-of-the-art labs and equipment, office space, shared services, and a network of mentors and experts who aim to grow local companies and foster connections between USF and the business community.
The Research Integrity and Compliance department ensures research performed at USF is safe and ethical and complies with applicable regulations, laws, and institutional policies. Comparative Medicine contributes to a greater understanding of life through studies that define and compare complex living organisms and processes. Research Shared Services and Information Services provides central office and IT support services to all the departments.