The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office issued more than 300,000 utility patents in 2018. Though anyone can apply for a patent, large corporations tend to receive the most — more than one-fourth of patents in 2018 went to just 50 companies. These companies and their employees worked to revolutionize their industries and stay one step ahead of the competition.
A patent is a legal declaration of intellectual property, giving owners rights and exclusivity to its idea. It also prevents others from using, imitating, or selling that idea. Some companies were awarded thousands of patents in the last year alone.
To identify the 50 most innovative companies, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the 1,000 companies that received the most utility patent grants from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in 2018, according to data provided by IFI Claims Patent Services. We then ranked the 50 companies with the most patents granted.
Utility patents, which cover processes, items, machines, and other new and useful creations, are the most frequently awarded of the three types of patents. The other two are design patents, which protect visual characteristics, and plant patents, which cover to new species of plants.
Nearly all of the companies on the list primarily deal in electronics products such as semiconductors, computers, software, and telecommunications. There are also several well-known auto manufacturers like Ford, Toyota, and Hyundai that rank among the most innovative companies in the world.
IFI produces this data based on the entity listed as the patent holder, and that entity often is a division or subsidiary of the larger company. In order to arrive at a figure that more closely reflects a company’s total, 24/7 Wall St. totaled the grants awarded to a company and its subsidiaries. It is important to note that while IFI Claims Patent Services provided the data based on USPTO grants, 24/7 Wall St. aggregated the grants of multiple entities under the same parent corporation. This number is therefore an estimate as it excludes any patent-holding subsidiaries of a company that do not share the company’s name, and it does not include companies outside of the top 1,000 patent grantees.
Click here to see the most innovative companies.
Click here to read our detailed findings and methodology.
Source: Fensterblick. / Wikimedia Commons
50. GlobalFoundries Inc
> 2018 patent grants: 635
> 2017 patent grants: 854
> Country: Cayman Islands
> Products: Semiconductors
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Source: Koichi Kamoshida / Getty Images
49. Sharp Corp
> 2018 patent grants: 643
> 2017 patent grants: 686
> Country: Japan
> Products: Televisions, home appliances, smartphones
Source: Mike Coppola / Getty Images
48. Fujifilm Corp
> 2018 patent grants: 658
> 2017 patent grants: 695
> Country: Japan
> Products: Cameras, industrial products, medical systems
Source: Justin Sullivan / Getty Images
47. Dell Products LP
> 2018 patent grants: 668
> 2017 patent grants: 623
> Country: USA
> Products: Computers, servers, printers, software
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Source: Ezra Shaw / Getty Images
46. Oracle
> 2018 patent grants: 703
> 2017 patent grants: 767
> Country: USA
> Products: Database software and cloud storage systems
Source: Tomohiro Ohsumi / Getty Images
45. NEC Corp
> 2018 patent grants: 715
> 2017 patent grants: 819
> Country: Japan
> Products: IT and communications services
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Source: China Photos / Getty Images
44. Murata Manufacturing Co Ltd
> 2018 patent grants: 743
> 2017 patent grants: 566
> Country: Japan
> Products: Electronics, sensors, energy devices
Source: Markus Eigenheer from Genève / Wikimedia Commons
43. Honeywell International Inc
> 2018 patent grants: 749
> 2017 patent grants: 856
> Country: USA
> Products: Consumer products, aerospace engineering
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
42. Texas Instruments Inc
> 2018 patent grants: 785
> 2017 patent grants: 923
> Country: USA
> Products: Semiconductors, educational technology
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Source: D-Keine / Getty Images
40. EMC IP Holding Co LLC
> 2018 patent grants: 801
> 2017 patent grants: 645
> Country: USA
> Products: Electrical equipment
Source: Pool / Getty Images
40. SK Hynix Inc
> 2018 patent grants: 801
> 2017 patent grants: 942
> Country: South Korea
> Products: Semiconductors, memory chips
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Source: Ronald Martinez / Getty Images
39. Halliburton Energy Services Inc
> 2018 patent grants: 807
> 2017 patent grants: 738
> Country: USA
> Products: Oilfield services
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Source: Sean Gallup / Getty Images
38. Koninklijke Philips NV
> 2018 patent grants: 844
> 2017 patent grants: 905
> Country: Netherlands
> Products: Lighting, televisions, personal health products
Source: David McNew / Getty Images
37. Cisco Technology Inc
> 2018 patent grants: 848
> 2017 patent grants: 967
> Country: USA
> Products: Software, routers, internet security
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Source: departmentofenergy / Flickr
35. Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co Ltd
> 2018 patent grants: 870
> 2017 patent grants: 973
> Country: Japan
> Products: Semiconductors
Source: Joerg Koch / Getty Images
35. Siemens AG
> 2018 patent grants: 870
> 2017 patent grants: 939
> Country: Germany
> Products: Home appliances, automation systems, healthcare technology
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Source: yoh4nn / Getty Images
34. Micron Technology Inc
> 2018 patent grants: 924
> 2017 patent grants: 802
> Country: USA
> Products: Computer accessories and storage
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Source: Richard Heathcote / Getty Images
33. Honda Motor Co Ltd
> 2018 patent grants: 926
> 2017 patent grants: 910
> Country: Japan
> Products: Automobiles
Source: Justin Sullivan / Getty Images
32. Hewlett Packard
> 2018 patent grants: 972
> 2017 patent grants: 981
> Country: USA
> Products: Computers, printers, information technology
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Source: Toby Jorrin / Getty Images
31. AT&T Intellectual Property I LP
> 2018 patent grants: 985
> 2017 patent grants: 946
> Country: USA
> Products: Telecommunications, entertainment, technology
Source: Bill Pugliano / Getty Images
30. Denso Corp
> 2018 patent grants: 1,003
> 2017 patent grants: 929
> Country: Japan
> Products: Auto parts
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Source: USAF / Getty Images
29. United Technologies Corp
> 2018 patent grants: 1,011
> 2017 patent grants: 494
> Country: USA
> Products: Elevators, aerospace, security
Source: Junko Kimura / Getty Images
28. Fujitsu Ltd
> 2018 patent grants: 1,038
> 2017 patent grants: 1,538
> Country: Japan
> Products: Semiconductors, operating systems, computer storage
Source: Rama / Wikimedia Commons
27. Ricoh Co Ltd
> 2018 patent grants: 1,043
> 2017 patent grants: 1,145
> Country: Japan
> Products: Printers, cameras, watches, IT services
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Source: Chung Sung-Jun / Getty Images
26. GM Global Technology Operations LLC
> 2018 patent grants: 1,046
> 2017 patent grants: 1,065
> Country: USA
> Products: Automobiles
Source: Tomohiro Ohsumi / Getty Images
25. Mitsubishi Electric Corp
> 2018 patent grants: 1,106
> 2017 patent grants: 1,150
> Country: Japan
> Products: Automobiles, air conditioners, power generation systems
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Source: Thomas Lohnes / Getty Images
24. Robert Bosch GmbH
> 2018 patent grants: 1,136
> 2017 patent grants: 1,234
> Country: Germany
> Products: Industrial technology, consumer electronics
Source: Stephen Brashear / Getty Images
23. Boeing Co
> 2018 patent grants: 1,227
> 2017 patent grants: 1,177
> Country: USA
> Products: Aerospace and military technology
Source: Sean Gallup / Getty Images
22. Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co Ltd
> 2018 patent grants: 1,254
> 2017 patent grants: 1,338
> Country: Japan
> Products: Cameras, home appliances, televisions
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
21. Seiko Epson Corp
> 2018 patent grants: 1,285
> 2017 patent grants: 1,406
> Country: Japan
> Products: Printers, projectors, wearable products
Source: RFarrarons / Getty Images
20. Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson AB
> 2018 patent grants: 1,353
> 2017 patent grants: 1,551
> Country: Sweden
> Products: IT services, public safety management, electronic components
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Source: Jeff J Mitchell / Getty Images
19. Hyundai Motor Co
> 2018 patent grants: 1,369
> 2017 patent grants: 1,303
> Country: South Korea
> Products: Automobiles
Source: poba / Getty Images
18. BoE Technology Group Co Ltd
> 2018 patent grants: 1,634
> 2017 patent grants: 1,413
> Country: China
> Products: Data collection and processing
Source: Sean Gallup / Getty Images
17. Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
> 2018 patent grants: 1,680
> 2017 patent grants: 1,474
> Country: China
> Products: Mobile phones, tablets, routers, IT infrastructure
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Source: Justin Sullivan / Getty Images
16. General Electric
> 2018 patent grants: 1,716
> 2017 patent grants: 1,740
> Country: USA
> Products: Home appliances, jet engines, commercial lending
Source: Oli Scarff / Getty Images
15. Amazon Technologies Inc
> 2018 patent grants: 2,035
> 2017 patent grants: 1,962
> Country: USA
> Products: Consumer products, e-readers, TV and movie streaming
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Source: Bill Pugliano / Getty Images
14. Ford Global Technologies LLC
> 2018 patent grants: 2,123
> 2017 patent grants: 1,868
> Country: USA
> Products: Automobiles
Source: Stephen Lam / Getty Images
13. Apple Inc
> 2018 patent grants: 2,160
> 2017 patent grants: 2,226
> Country: USA
> Products: Mobile phones, computers, tablets, software
Source: David Becker / Getty Images
12. Sony
> 2018 patent grants: 2,165
> 2017 patent grants: 2,672
> Country: Japan
> Products: Digital cameras, televisions, speakers, mobile phones
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Source: Brendan Hoffman / Getty Images
11. Google
> 2018 patent grants: 2,197
> 2017 patent grants: 2,706
> Country: USA
> Products: Search engine, internet browser, laptops
Source: Neilson Barnard / Getty Images
10. Toshiba
> 2018 patent grants: 2,201
> 2017 patent grants: 2,032
> Country: Japan
> Products: Laptops, hard drives, digital displays, business solutions
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Source: Justin Sullivan / Getty Images
9. Qualcomm Inc
> 2018 patent grants: 2,300
> 2017 patent grants: 2,626
> Country: USA
> Products: Semiconductors, cellular modems, telecommunications equipment
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Source: Czech Wikipedia user Packa / Wikimedia Commons
8. Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC
> 2018 patent grants: 2,353
> 2017 patent grants: 2,441
> Country: USA
> Products: Software, operating systems, mobile phones
Source: Peellden / Wikimedia Commons
7. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) Ltd
> 2018 patent grants: 2,465
> 2017 patent grants: 2,424
> Country: Taiwan
> Products: Semiconductors
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Source: Junko Kimura / Getty Images
6. Toyota
> 2018 patent grants: 2,476
> 2017 patent grants: 2,441
> Country: Japan
> Products: Automobiles, automobile accessories
Source: Brian Ach / Getty Images
5. Canon Inc
> 2018 patent grants: 3,056
> 2017 patent grants: 3,284
> Country: Japan
> Products: Cameras, camcorders, printers
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Source: Justin Sullivan / Getty Images
4. Intel
> 2018 patent grants: 3,322
> 2017 patent grants: 3,537
> Country: USA
> Products: Personal computers, consumer electronics, processors
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Source: David Becker / Getty Images
3. LG
> 2018 patent grants: 4,198
> 2017 patent grants: 4,465
> Country: South Korea
> Products: Mobile phones, televisions, home appliances
Source: David McNew / Getty Images
2. Samsung
> 2018 patent grants: 8,568
> 2017 patent grants: 8,880
> Country: South Korea
> Products: Mobile phones, televisions, home appliances
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Source: Sean Gallup / Getty Images
1. International Business Machines Corp
> 2018 patent grants: 9,100
> 2017 patent grants: 9,043
> Country: USA
> Products: Data management, IT services, application development
Detailed Findings
2017 was a record year for patents, with the USPTO issuing just over 320,000 patents, an all-time high. This year, the USPTO issued 308,853 patents, a 3.5% decline from last year. Yet this is still much higher than it was a decade ago. In 2009, there were less than 168,000 patents awarded. In each of the past five years, around 300,000 patents were awarded.
According to IFI Claims senior analyst Larry Cady, “Most of the growth can be attributed to the electronics industry, particularly computers and telecommunications.” As smartphones, computers, and other high tech devices have taken over the consumer marketplace, they have also “overwhelmed other areas like pharmaceuticals, chemicals and manufacturing … and other traditional industries,” Cady said.
Over 145,000 of the new utility patents filed in 2018 were in just five electronics categories: electrical digital data processing, transmission of digital information, semiconductors, wireless communication networks, and pictorial communication.
American companies occupy the most spots among the 50 most innovative companies, at 22. Japan has the second most companies, with 16. There are also four South Korean companies among the to 50 patent recipients.
Methodology
To identify the 50 most innovative companies, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the 1,000 companies that received the most patent grants from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in 2018, according to data provided by IFI Claims Patent Services. We then ranked the 50 companies with the most patents granted. IFI produces this data based on the entity listed as the patent holder, and that entity often is a division or subsidiary of the larger company. In order to arrive at a figure that more closely reflects a company’s total, 24/7 Wall St. totaled the grants awarded to a company and its subsidiaries. It is important to note that while IFI Claims Patent Services provided the data based on USPTO grants, 24/7 Wall St. aggregated the grants of multiple entities under the same parent corporation. This number is therefore an estimate as it excludes any patent-holding subsidiaries of a company that do not share the company’s name, and it does not include companies outside of the top 1,000 patent grantees.
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