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 With more patents applied for or granted in 2014 than in any other
year in history, humankind has never been more inventive, whether in
designing driverless cars, discovering new drugs for cancer or
building bionic limbs.
But growth in innovation has nonetheless slowed, with worldwide
patent volume up 3 percent last year, the smallest annual rise since
the end of the global recession in 2009. Previous years have seen
near double-digit percentage increases.
While part of that may be due to tighter patenting rules in the
United States, there are also signs of more fundamental shifts, with
the volume of published scientific literature -- a precursor to
patents -- down 22 percent across 12 industries.
Significantly, patents for semiconductors fell 5 percent in 2014.
That may spell trouble for other areas, since microchips form a
bedrock for innovations such as wearable tech, big data and the
so-called Internet-of-things, which allows wireless communication
between appliances.
Still, with more than 2.1 million unique inventions recorded across
industries last year, the world is not exactly short of new ideas.
Major sectors showing impressive patent growth in 2014 included
pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, where inventions rose 12 and 7
percent respectively, according to the 2015 State of Innovation
report published on Tuesday. (http://stateofinnovation.com).
There was also a marked increase in food, beverages and tobacco, up
21 percent, and in cosmetics and well-being, up 8 percent.
These sectors also highlight the convergence of industries and the
emergence of products such as nutraceuticals -- foods and drinks
with potential health benefits -- and cosmeceuticals, the
combination of cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.
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Some of the world's biggest companies are embracing this blurring of
boundaries, notably Samsung [SAGR.UL], which is among the top 25
patent assignees in nine of the 12 industries analyzed in the
report.
In addition to watching a Samsung TV and using a Samsung phone, the
South Korean group also wants consumers to take Samsung-manufactured
prescription drugs, consume Samsung energy drinks and wear Samsung
make-up.
Its broad push, following a bruising patent battle with Apple,
reflects a growing determination by Asian players to stake their
claim on the knowledge economy.
China, too, is a rising force in the patenting landscape, led by
companies including Huawei [HWT.UL] and ZTE, as well as institutions
such as the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
(Editing by Mark Potter)
[© 2015 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
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