Clarivate has just published its latest annual “Top 100 Global Innovators” report, identifying the organisations that are excelling at the innovation game. It also gives some insights into the key current and emerging areas of technology.
Innovation Trends
Key trends reported include a doubling of both the number of aerospace and defence firms and the number of automotive firms within the Top 100. In aerospace, Rolls-Royce makes it into the Top 100 Global Innovators, while Ford, Volkswagen and Kia Motors are new automotive entries and Honda and Toyota make it into the Top 100 for the eleventh time.
Top Companies
Notable mentions include US chemicals and materials firm 3M, Swedish telecommunications firm Ericsson and Japanese electronics and computing equipment firm Sony.
Top Countries
The report gives us a view of innovation across the globe and shows the countries and regions where innovation continues to thrive. Japan has the largest number of firms with the Top 100 from a single country, with thirty-five. The UK has two new entries on the list with industrial systems firm CNH Industrial and, as previously mentioned, aerospace and defence firm Rolls-Royce. The US has 18 firms included on the list. This is down from last year’s report but the evaluation methodology used by Clarivate has changed for 2022, so it will be interesting to see how the numbers play out next year. Energy firm Saudi Aramco has become the first ever entry from the Middle East region signalling an increase in geographical diversity of innovation activity.
Top Technology Areas
The electronics and computing equipment sector leads the way in terms of number of firms, with twenty-eight firms in this industry sector making into the Top 100. The sector with second highest number of firms in the Top 100 is automotive, with twelve firms listed, closely followed in third place by the chemicals and materials sector with ten firms. So the electronics and computing equipment sector continues to dominate global innovation activity.
Predictions for the Future
Using their data, Clarivate present us with a forecast for the increase or decrease in performance of technological areas for the future. Industrial systems and Telecommunications are predicted to have significant increases in a matter of a few years. In our view, this will be driven by the implementation of Industry 4.0 and the continuing roll out of 5G telecoms networks. We can expect to see remote controlled factories and driverless vehicles which is made possible by the swift speeds of the 5G network. With this new technology being integrated, firms will be able to revolutionize the way they manufacture, enhance and deliver their products.
You can read the full Clarivate “Top 100 Global Innovators” report here.
