The UK has three of Europe’s most innovative universities with Imperial College London leading the way in the top ten, according to a new ranking.
Belgium’s KU Leuven has taken the top spot, with Cambridge coming third in Reuters’ first-ever top 100 list which aims to identify which institutions throughout the continent contribute the most to science and technology.
The list also aims to highlight which universities have the greatest impact on the global economy.
Top 10 most innovative universities in Europe:
Other key findings of the rankings have highlighted the strong performance of universities in Western Europe, with 60 institutions featuring in the top 100. Germany accounts for 24 of 100 - more than any other country - while the UK comes in second with a total of 17 institutions.
Top 10 most innovative universities in the UK:
Arlyn Tobias Gajilan, co-editor of the rankings and Reuters deputy editor for professional news, said the biggest thing the results have shown is that “innovation can originate almost anywhere.”
She added: “As our data came together, it quickly became clear geography, size, and age were not indicative of a university’s capacity to innovate. What matters most is a school’s technical focus and the practical application of its research into real world products and solutions.
“Innovation means different things to different people, and that’s one of the reasons why it’s been so difficult to measure. By taking an empirical approach that incorporates a broad set of ten metrics, we have provided new insights into how universities are impacting both the European and global economies.”
Click here to see the complete 100 list
