IEEE Spectrum July, 2011 - 68

the data
International
InternationalPatent
PatentFilings
Filings
6060

Leading
LeadingCorporations
Corporations

AsAs
with
seemingly
everything
else,
the
United
States
still
with
seemingly
everything
else,
the
United
States
still
has
a strong
lead
in in
international
patent
filings,
but
China
has
a strong
lead
international
patent
filings,
but
China
is is
rapidly
closing
the
gap.
rapidly
closing
the
gap.

2500
2500

Two
Chinese
corporations
are
now
in in
Two
Chinese
corporations
are
now
the
top
ranks
ofof
corporate
filers.
the
top
ranks
corporate
filers.

Panasonic
Panasonic
(Japan)
(Japan)

5050

2006-2010
2006-2010
percent
percent
change
change

United
United
States
States

2000
2000
ZTE
ZTE
(China)
(China)

-12-12

Philips
Philips
(Netherlands)
(Netherlands)
Qualcomm
Qualcomm
(U.S.)
(U.S.)

4040

Huawei
Huawei
(China)
(China)

1500
1500

Thousands
Thousands

+19
+19

3030

Japan
Japan

1000
1000

2020

Germany
Germany

+5+5

Leading
LeadingUniversities
Universities
The
United
States
still
dominates
in in
The
United
States
still
dominates
university-filed
patent
applications.
university-filed
patent
applications.

+212
+212

500
500
1010

Republic
Republic
ofof
Korea
Korea

The
Regents
The
Regents
of of
the
the
University
of of
University
California
California

Boad
of of
Boad
Regents,
Regents,
the
University
the
University
of of
Texas
Texas
The
The
System
System
University
University
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
of of
Tokyo
Tokyo
Institute
of of
Institute
Technology
Technology
University
University
of of
Florida
Florida

+63
+63

China
China
00

00
2006
2006

2007
2007

2008
2008

2009
2009

2010
2010
Source: World Intellectual Property Organization

China Rising: International Patent Applications

S

upErcomputiNg powEr, kilometers of high-speed
rail, planned nuclear power plants-this page has had
a definite Sino theme lately. Here's another measure of
china's tech growth: international patent applications. in 2010,
china filed 56 percent more international patent applications
than the year before. the number of u.S. applications, by
contrast, was down for a third year in a row.
the figures come from the world intellectual property
organization, a united Nations agency based in geneva.
An international application is the first step toward claiming
ownership in 142 nations-a domestic patent protects an
invention only in one country.
Despite china's growth, the united States still tops the list
by a wide margin, accounting for more than a quarter of all

68

NA * iEEE SpEctrum * july 2011

applications last year. china's rise, though, is signaled by
having two manufacturers in the top ranks of individual
corporations: ZtE corp. and Huawei technologies co.
that both are in digital communications is no coincidence-
that area leads the list of industrial sectors and features
another patent powerhouse, Qualcomm.
the united States also still dominates the list of leading
university applicants. the university of california system and
mit are at the top, but the roster also includes the university
of Florida, in gainesville, which received uS $678 million in
research awards in 2010 and is building a new "super incubator."
Staff there will work to commercialize medical and clean energy
technologies. the Sunshine State's innovations may soon go
beyond gatorade.
-Joseph Calamia
spectrum.ieee.org
http://spectrum.ieee.org
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of IEEE Spectrum July, 2011
