KU Leuven named as most innovative university in Europe

KU Leuven tops the poll as the most innovative university in Europe, earning its place by churning out a high volume of influential inventions, according to a league table published by Reuters this week.

Researchers at the Belgian university submit more patents than almost any other university in Europe, and outside researchers frequently cite KU Leuven inventions in their own patent applications, according to the analysis.

German universities account for almost a quarter of the 100 most innovative universities in Europe, more than any other country. The UK is the second, while notable absences from the list are Sweden and Finland, which has no institutions in the top 100. 

Ireland has three universities in the ranking, published this week. It small population means it has more innovative universities per capita than any other country in Europe, Reuters says.

Inevitably, the list is dominated by universities located in western Europe, with only one university in eastern Europe, Poland’s Jagiellonian University, in the ranking at number 92.

The list is drawn up on the basis of publishing and patenting data, with rankings based on 10 patent and research-related metrics, including the volume and impact of scientific research, the volume and success of patent filings and the use of cited discoveries in the academic and corporate worlds.

\Unlike some other league tables, such as The QS, Reuters only analyses data on a university-wide scale. This means that innovative departments inside otherwise small or ordinary universities will be overlooked.

The other main global ranking tables for universities are the Times Higher Education World University Ranking, and the Academic Ranking of World Universities, better known as the Shanghai rankings.