University labs are becoming key sources of licensable intellectual property in the video coding industry. Over 1,400 VVC-related patent families are linked to just a few leading universities, including Peking University and Tsinghua University. These institutions play a significant yet often overlooked role in the development of standard-essential patents (SEPs). Their patents not only influence global standards but also shape the licensing landscape by entering major patent pools like Access Advance and Sisvel.
However, neither the Joint Video Exploration Team (JVET) nor the International Telecommunication Union (ITU-T) has mandated detailed patent disclosures. This lack of transparency makes it difficult to fully assess the contribution of universities to the VVC standard, complicating their evaluation using conventional metrics.
Our analysis examines academic contributions through patent portfolios, patent transfers, and JVET involvement, demonstrating how universities drive both technical advancements and the creation of valuable licensable IP that strengthens the global SEP ecosystem. We emphasize a crucial yet often overlooked aspect of SEP activity, which holds significant implications for licensing strategies and research partnerships.
Our Methodology
We gathered all JVET meeting reports and contributions from 2015 to 2025. We then manually reviewed all filings and identified 28 universities actively contributing to the JVET process. This helped us create a university-centered dataset focusing on the following:
- VVC-related patent portfolios for these universities. We captured around 8700+ patent families from these universities published till April 2025. The patent family data includes alive, dead, and pending families to provide a complete picture of innovative activity over time.
- The presence of university-originated patents in major video codec patent pools like Access Advance, Via LA, and Sisvel.
- Patent transfer records showing the movement of intellectual property from academia to industry.
This multi-source, cross-jurisdictional approach offers a clear lens into where foundational innovations originate, how they transition into licensing ecosystems, and what assets may remain outside pool coverage.
Key Strategic Insights at a Glance
1. Industry-Academia Alliances Are the Primary Engine of Innovation
The data reveal that strategic alliances between universities and corporations act as external R&D engines. For example, South Korea’s ETRI and Kyung Hee University have co-developed 129 patent families, while Huawei’s deep collaborations with Tsinghua University have yielded 64 co-owned families. Samsung’s multi-campus engagement with Kyung Hee, Sungkyunkwan, and others exemplifies how these partnerships feed corporate IP pipelines.
These networks help trace SEP lineage and forecast where new patent assertions may emerge. Alliance mapping also helps clarify indirect exposure not reflected in pool summaries.
2. University Research Forms the Licensable Bedrock of SEP Pools
University-developed IP contributes to global patent pools in two main ways: directly, as seen with Sejong University’s US11792426B2 and Kyung Hee’s US12184882B2, and indirectly through corporate partnerships, like Huawei and Tsinghua’s jointly owned US9106897B2. These collaborations create essential standard-essential patents (SEPs) that enhance major licensing platforms.
Many companies obtain their assets listed in these pools from university partnerships. By tracking this connection, one can identify potential obligations or negotiating advantages, especially when counterparts depend on academic research. This understanding helps improve assessments of licensing scope and strategies
3. A Select Few Universities Hold Global Patent Footprints
Only three institutions, Peking University, Zhejiang University, and Tsinghua University, rank among the top 10 patent holders across China, the US, and Europe. These universities have developed comprehensive patent strategies that not only prioritize strong domestic protection but also ensure targeted international filings. This approach is typically seen in large corporations, rather than in academia.
Top University Contributors in VVC Development: Technical Contribution vs. Patent Ownership
While JVET documents reveal who shaped the direction of the standard, patent filings reveal who owns the enforceable rights to its implementation. Institutions like RWTH Aachen University and City University of Hong Kong contributed heavily to technical proposals, yet they hold comparatively modest patent portfolios.
On the other hand, Chinese universities such as Peking, Zhejiang, and Tsinghua are less visible in JVET leadership but dominate the patent landscape.
Top Universities by JVET Document Count
| Top JVET Universities | Count of JVET documents |
| Xidian University | 133 |
| RWTH Aachen University | 75 |
| Wuhan University | 43 |
| City University of Hong Kong (CityU) | 36 |
| Peking University | 31 |
| Chosun University | 17 |
| Zhejiang University | 17 |
| Sejong University | 13 |
| Kyungnam University | 5 |
| Waseda University | 4 |
Top 10 Universities by VVC-Related Patent Families
| University Names | Count of patent families |
| Peking University | 765 |
| Zhejiang University | 758 |
| Tsinghua University | 644 |
| Xidian University | 631 |
| University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (UESTC) | 475 |
| Sun Yat-sen University | 374 |
| Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT) | 333 |
| Wuhan University | 331 |
| Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) | 320 |
| Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications | 315 |
Knowing who influenced the standard tells only half the story. Ownership defines who can assert, license, or litigate. A university with minimal JVET visibility may still possess a large SEP portfolio with global enforcement potential.
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This is where dual-tracking becomes indispensable. Evaluating both contribution and ownership allows for a clearer understanding of potential licensing obligations and surfaces silent risks that may not be captured in SEP pool summaries or declarations.
Geographic Patenting Strategies: Mapping the Monetization Intent
A university’s filing strategy is a proxy for its monetization goals and market alignment.
The “Fortress China” Strategy
Chinese universities such as Peking, Zhejiang, and Tsinghua focus heavily on domestic filings. This secures local enforcement power while deepening partnerships with national players like Huawei and Xiaomi.
The “Global Monetization” Strategy
South Korean institutions like Kyung Hee University and Sejong University lead in US and European filings. Their international patent portfolios suggest intent to license in high-value jurisdictions and to pursue enforcement if necessary.
The “Global Triumvirate”
Peking, Zhejiang, and Tsinghua Universities each have substantial patent families across China, the US, and Europe, signaling a fully global IP monetization approach. This makes them significant players in any cross-border licensing or litigation scenario.
Notably, patents tracing back to these universities are now part of major SEP pools like Access Advance, Sisvel, and Via LA. For example:
- Kyung Hee University: US12184882B2, US12224935B2
- Sejong University: US11792426B2, US12192455B2
- Tsinghua University: US11659184B2
- MIT: US9479771B2
The Collaboration Network: How Industry and Academia Work Together
The development of video coding technology involves strategic partnerships between universities and corporations. These collaborations create significant intellectual property (IP) assets and shape the landscape of VVC standard-essential patents (SEPs).
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Formation of High-Volume National Alliances
One prominent example is the long-standing partnership between South Korea’s Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) and Kyung Hee University, which has resulted in 129 patent families. Several of these patents have been monetized through inclusion in the Access Advance VVC patent pool, generating ongoing licensing revenues as VVC adoption expands. Kyung Hee’s patents, among others, are now part of this licensing ecosystem.
In China, Huawei has established substantial collaborations with Tsinghua University and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, co-owning 64 patent families. These partnerships have been pivotal in transforming academic research into high-value SEPs, including patents like CN102724493A, US9106897B2, and US10542256B2.
Huawei has integrated VVC-enabled encoding into its HiSilicon Kirin chipsets, which power devices like the Mate 40 Pro and smart displays. This integration enables Huawei to maintain high video performance despite challenges with external chip suppliers, positioning internal SEP access as a strategic necessity.
The University as an External R&D Lab:
For many companies, university collaborations function as extensions of their own R&D departments. For instance, Samsung Electronics collaborates with several top Korean universities, including Kyung Hee University (33 patent families) and Sungkyunkwan University (24 patent families).
Newer companies, like Oppo and Xiaomi, have adopted similar strategies. Collaborations with Zhejiang University (24 patent families) and Xidian University (20 patent families) have led to key innovations in products such as Xiaomi’s Mi TV Master Series and Oppo’s Reno 11 Pro smartphones, both of which support VVC-ready playback and efficient streaming.
These partnerships are a clear example of how academic collaborations translate into market-ready technologies that differentiate products in competitive markets.
Multi-Party Collaborations for New Frontiers:
In some cases, multiple entities come together to create complex innovations. A notable example is the 42 patent families co-owned by Hyundai Motor Co., Kia Motors Corp., and Sungkyunkwan University, highlighting VVC’s growing role in the automotive sector. This collaboration focuses on applications such as in-car infotainment.
The Flow of Innovation: Patent Transfers from Universities to Companies
Beyond early-stage collaboration, a mature pathway for technology commercialization is the direct acquisition of university-owned patents by corporations. This demonstrates the recognized commercial value of academic research. Our data shows several examples of this direct transfer:
- Dolby Laboratories has been an active acquirer of university IP, with examples including patents from Sejong University (e.g., CN106063272B), Sungkyunkwan University (e.g., US20160269730A1), and Kyung Hee University (e.g., US8218619B2).
- Hisense acquired patents such as CN103974078B, US10230990B2 from Peking University.
- Philips has acquired patents from Sejong University, including US11659163B2 and US11917149B2. The US11659163B2 patent also became part of the Access Advance patent pool for VVC (H.266).
There are many such examples where university patents, later acquired by companies like Philips, contributed to expanding the SEP patent pool of those companies.
Conclusion
University contributions are often integrated into patent portfolios without immediate visibility, making it essential to go beyond conventional declarations. This creates both a critical need and a long-term opportunity.
To effectively assess risk and ensure efficient licensing, it is important to have a clear view of the academic origins of co-owned, transferred, or pooled standard-essential patents (SEPs).
The key question is: Which university research efforts today are most likely to shape the next generation of standard-essential technologies?
Identifying these early indicators, through research papers, committee involvement, or growing patent activity, can provide a strategic advantage in future negotiations. The institutions currently at the forefront of video codec development are already laying the groundwork for future technologies. Understanding this trajectory will help inform your IP strategy moving forward.
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