IBM, Samsung Electronics lead the way in record year for patent grants

According to new research from RS Components, IBM led the way in the way of patent applications last year, securing 9,043 patents.

IBM has retained the top spot for the last 25 years, having seen a further 12% increase this year compared to the 8,088 seen in 2016.

See also:

• IBM and Apple sign new mobile-centric AI partnership

• Apple, Cisco, Allianz, Aon now offering cybersecurity insurance

• Google is planning to adopt blockchain

Despite the media attention surrounding the patent filings of the likes of Apple, Google and Amazon – the companies considered to be leading innovators – it is in fact Samsung Electronics (5,837 patents) that comes in second behind IBM, followed by Canon (3,285 patents), Intel (3,023 patents) and LG (2,701 patents).

These firms spearheaded a record year for patent grants in 2017, with over 320,000 having been secured according to information from the Patent & Trademark Office – a 5.2% increase on 2016’s figures.

In terms of greatest change in the number of patent grants, automotive companies Toyota and Ford led the way with a 36% and 24% increase respectively, reflecting the increase competition surrounding technology innovation within the industry, driven by the emergence of the autonomous and electric vehicle markets.

For more information, see the full infographic, Which Tech Giant is Leading the Way, from RS Components.