Top of the Heap: UVA Ranks No. 1 in Female Percentage of New Inventors

When Kim Wilkens says she has seen a noticeable increase in the number of women in entrepreneurship at the University of Virginia over the last two decades, it carries weight. As the founder of Tech-Girls, the founding board member of Charlottesville Women in Tech and the co-founder of the startup company Roversa Robotics, Wilkens has a better understanding than most on the topic.

“I’m encouraged by what I see when we intentionally create opportunities,” said Wilkens, who also serves as the education and outreach director at UVA’s School of Education and Human Development.

“When women have early, hands-on experiences, whether it’s exploring robotics, creating technology, or learning alongside a supportive community, their confidence and identity as creators really starts to take shape.” 

Wilkens’ impression of the landscape is more than anecdotal. According to a recent study in “Issues in Science and Technology” that analyzed data from 2016-2020, UVA has the highest female percentage of new inventors of any university in the country.

In the study, UVA is No. 1 at 36.9%,  and is followed by University of Texas (33.9%), University of South Florida (33.0%), Michigan State University (32.2%) and New York University (31.9%).

According to the study, UVA’s score grew by a whopping 17 percentage points over a 20-year span. ­

“The growth has taken place across multiple technology fields and is consistent with the school’s high female share of STEM Ph.D.’s -- likely a reflection of ongoing, university-wide efforts to promote and support entrepreneurial activity among students and faculty,” the report states.

At the helm of those efforts is the UVA Licensing & Ventures Group. LVG offers outreach and support around invention disclosure, patenting, and startup formation, ensuring promising ideas are not lost due to lack of familiarity with the process.

LVG’s Enterprise Studio, a partnership with UVA Innovates, supports faculty, research staff and graduate student researchers who are considering commercializing their UVA-based ideas and inventions

“All of these resources create an environment where women are supported not only in generating ideas, but in moving them forward,” LVG Executive Director Richard W. Chylla said.

LVG Licensing Manager Cortney Mushill has noticed the surge in the number of female inventors over the last several years.

“In the past, women may have been part of a project, but not leading the charge in disclosing their great ideas,” Mushill said. “Now they’re leading the charge.”

Mushill said she has also seen more women in general across the board, notably with patent attorneys and the LVG licensing team, half of which is female.

“This shows women are taking a lead and bringing their scientific and technical expertise into the field of technology transfer,” Mushill said.

Wilkens said having her startup company go through LVG’s I-Corps program was particularly beneficial.

“LVG provides an important pathway to entrepreneurship, especially for individuals who may not initially see themselves as inventors or founders,” Wilkens said. “I still experience imposter syndrome at times, so having access to spaces that support learning and growth is incredibly important. I also appreciated having a female entrepreneur-in-residence as a role model.”

Nikki Hastings, the executive director at CvilleBioHub – an independent non-profit organization whose mission to accelerate the biotechnology industry in Central Virginia -- said the University’s high percentage of new female inventors reflects a deliberately inclusive culture that encourages broad participation in innovation.

“UVA emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration across science, engineering, medicine and business, which helps expand who sees themselves as an inventor in the first place,” Hastings said. “Early exposure to commercialization, intellectual property and real-world problem solving demystifies the invention process and lowers psychological and structural barriers.”

There is still work to be done, though. When Wilkens recently attended a pitch competition at the SXSW EDU Conference & Festival, there were no female founders pitching on stage. “Moments like that are a reminder that progress isn’t always linear and that continued effort is needed to ensure visibility and opportunity,” she said.

Hastings said representation at the point of invention does not automatically translate into equal outcomes in funding, leadership or long-term company success.

“Continued focus is needed to support women through later stages of commercialization, scale and capital formation, where gaps still persist.” Hastings said.

Wilkens said one of the things she finds most powerful about the University’s approach to entrepreneurship is the connection between research, education, and community.

“When students, especially women, see pathways from learning to real-world impact, whether through invention, entrepreneurship or community partnerships,” she said, “it changes how they see themselves and what’s possible.”