The University of Washington is one of the oldest state-supported institutions of higher education on the West Coast and is one of the preeminent research universities in the world.

Since 1969, the University of Washington (UW), located in Seattle, has ranked among the top five institutions in the nation in receipt of federal awards, and since 1974, it has been the number one public university in America in receiving federal support for research and training. The UW is the technology foundation of numerous biotechnology and medical device companies in Washington State.