DFW Patent Productivity 35% Under Expected Levels
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- The SMU‑led study found Dallas‑Fort Worth’s innovation productivity is about 35% below the level predicted by its economic, educational and startup assets.
- The predictive analytics framework used data from 3,222 U.S. counties and more than 100 factors compiled from government sources in 2022 to benchmark patent activity.
- STEM education infrastructure was identified as the most influential factor, with a 50% increase in STEM degrees linked to a 33% rise in innovation productivity.
- Khaled Abdelghany (SMU professor) said the region’s gap is a roadmap for growth and that DFW already has the talent, resources and momentum to compete with leading innovation regions.
- Inam Khan (SMU postdoctoral fellow) was the lead author of the study published in IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management.
- Dallas‑Fort Worth is one of 65 U.S. regions measured for patent activity after adjusting for income, education, unemployment and startup activity.
Why it matters: The study quantifies a 35% shortfall in patent output for Dallas‑Fort Worth, meaning the region is missing out on innovation‑driven growth and high‑skill jobs that its economy, universities and workforce could otherwise generate. Closing the gap would benefit local firms, research institutions and the broader Texas economy.
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