By Maria Gonzalez
RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TEXAS – JULY 18, 2025 – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley has officially joined the National Academy of Inventors (NAI) as a new member institution, a recognition that highlights UTRGV’s commitment to enhancing research and commercializing university discoveries in its pursuit of R1 status.
This designation will enhance the university’s research capacity, attract top faculty and students and further its mission of education and discovery in the Rio Grande Valley and beyond. The announcement was made during the NAI annual conference on June 25 in Atlanta, Georgia.
“UTRGV’s membership in NAI is a testament to the innovative work of our faculty and students,” said Dr. Can (John) Saygin, senior vice president for Research and dean of the Graduate College. “As we continue expanding our research enterprise, NAI’s resources will accelerate commercialization efforts and drive impact in key areas such as technology, innovation, data sciences and societal transformations – pillars of our institutional research strategy.”
R1 status, designated as "Very High Research Activity" by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, places universities among the top research institutions in the U.S. UTRGV is strategically working toward achieving this classification by 2028.
UTRGV joins more than 200 member institutions nationwide, including several R1 universities within the University of Texas System, such as UT Austin, UT El Paso, UT Dallas, UT San Antonio and UT Arlington.
NAI programs, including the Global Academic Inventors Network (GAIN), offer UTRGV faculty mentorship and development opportunities in patenting, licensing and bringing discoveries to market. These initiatives connect researchers with experienced inventors and industry professionals who can provide guidance throughout the innovation process.
Faculty and students will benefit from access to NAI’s national network, fostering new collaborations, visibility and potential partnerships that advance faculty-led projects and enhance efforts to secure external funding.
“NAI membership enhances UTRGV’s ability to support faculty and students through stronger research infrastructure, expanded mentorship and access to national commercialization pathways,” said Dr. Thomas B. Spencer, associate vice president for Research Operations. “It’s an important step in building capacity for high-impact innovation across disciplines.”
Additionally, through NAI’s intellectual property curriculum and collaboration-focused initiatives, UTRGV will strengthen its research programs and partnerships across the UT System and with fellow NAI institutions. These resources will support faculty in advancing their work and developing commercially viable technologies.
With NAI membership, UTRGV is better equipped to support faculty inventions, enhance commercialization pathways and increase its visibility among national research institutions, Saygin said.
To learn more about NAI visit, https://academyofinventors.org/.
ABOUT UTRGV
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) was created by the Texas Legislature in 2013 as the first major public university of the 21st century in Texas. This transformative initiative provided the opportunity to expand educational opportunities in the Rio Grande Valley, including a new School of Medicine and a School of Podiatry, and made it possible for residents of the region to benefit from the Permanent University Fund – a public endowment contributing support to the University of Texas System and other institutions.
UTRGV has campuses and off-campus research and teaching sites throughout the Rio Grande Valley including Brownsville (formerly The University of Texas at Brownsville campus), Edinburg (formerly The University of Texas-Pan American campus), Harlingen, Weslaco, McAllen, Port Isabel, Rio Grande City and South Padre Island. UTRGV, a comprehensive academic institution, enrolled its first class in the fall of 2015; the School of Medicine welcomed its first class in the summer of 2016, and the School of Podiatric Medicine in the fall of 2022.