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The US university system is an innovation powerhouse, according to Reuters' 2016 Top 100 list.
The US claimed 46 of the top 100 universities on the list, followed by Japan with nine and France and South Korea, both with eight universities.
While "innovation" is a ubiquitous buzzword, it can also be a bit ambiguous. Reuters, however, used objective data, like the number of patents and research papers coming out of an institution, to compile the ranking. Read the full methodology here.
See below for the 10 most innovative universities in the world:
Located in Evanston, Illinois.
• 295 patents filed between 2009 and 2014
• 45.4% were subsequently granted
• Notable alumni: Mayor of Chicago Rahm Emanuel and former House Majority Leader Richard Gephardt
Located in Belgium
• 301 patents filed between 2009 and 2014
• 37.2% were subsequently granted
• Notable alumnus: CEO of Nestle Paul Bulcke
Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
• 517 patents filed between 2009 and 2014
• 33.5% were subsequently granted
• Notable alumni: American president-elect Donald Trump and American businessman and philanthropist Ron Perelman
