The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has announced plans to open a new community engagement office at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. This move aims to support innovators across an eight-state region that was previously served by the Rocky Mountain Regional Outreach Office, including Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Nebraska.
U.S. Senator John Curtis (R-UT) commented on the development: “Today’s announcement is an investment in American ingenuity and reinforces Utah’s leadership in research, technology, and entrepreneurship. Utah is ranked among the fastest-growing innovation economies in the country and has always been a place where bold ideas take root and grow. The new community engagement office will help ensure that our innovators have the tools, resources, and federal partnership they need to compete and win in the global economy.”
The USPTO is shifting its approach to community engagement by adopting a more flexible model designed to meet innovators’ needs where they are located. The University of Utah was selected for its status as an R1 research institution with strong commercialization capabilities within the Mountain West region. In fiscal year 2025, the university reported over $781 million in federal research activity and has outlined ambitious growth plans.
Additionally, the University of Utah maintains partnerships with industries in biotechnology, artificial intelligence, advanced engineering, and energy sectors. Its S.J. Quinney College of Law offers specialization in intellectual property law. With a significant number of individual and first-time inventors based in Utah—a state recognized for rapid innovation growth—the new USPTO office is expected to provide immediate benefits through enhanced access to federal resources.
