Thomson Reuters Releases Report on the State of Global Innovation

Aerospace increases 25%; semiconductors decreases 9% in analysis of leading technology areas

EAGAN, Minn., Jan. 12, 2011 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- Innovation levels, as measured by patent volume, shifted across 12 major technology areas from 2009 to 2010, according to the second annual analysis of world patent activity published by the IP Solutions business of Thomson Reuters. The 2010 Innovation Report: Twelve Key Technology Areas and Their States of Innovation tracks patent activity in key technology areas using the Thomson Reuters Derwent World Patents Index(R) (DWPI(SM)) database, the world's most trusted source of patent information.

Boeing patent application in Aerospace technology area: steering logic for spacecraft slew maneuvers (as seen on Thomson Innovation from Thomson Reuters).

Key findings between 2009 and 2010 innovation data include:

    -- Aerospace technology area blasts into a new orbit: In addition to
       increasing overall activity by 25% year over year, the largest 
       aerospace subsector increase from 2009 to 2010 occurred in the field of 
       Space Vehicles and Satellite Technology, which jumped up 108%. The 
       three companies in this area were Japanese manufacturer Sharp, followed 
       by Korean manufacturers LG and Samsung.

    -- Semiconductor innovation short circuits: The Semiconductor technology
       area saw the largest drop in innovation activity across the 12 areas 
       tracked, falling 9% last year. The drop was driven by subsector 
       declines in Integrated Circuits; Discrete Devices; and Memories, Film & 
       Hybrid Circuits. The one Semiconductor subsector showing growth in 2010 
       was Materials and Processes. The innovators with the most patent 
       activity in this subsector were Korean manufacturers Samsung and Hynix 
       Semiconductor, followed by Japan's Toshiba.

    -- Computers & Peripherals tops the list of the most innovative technology
       areas with the highest volume of patent activity for second consecutive 
       year, despite an overall decline from 2009: The Computers & Peripherals 
       technology area published 212,622 unique inventions in 2010, earning it 
       the top slot among the 12 areas in the analysis. However, this is a 6% 
       decline from the level seen in 2009.

The data in this report was compiled using the Thomson Reuters DWPI database, aggregating granted patents and published applications (examined and unexamined) from January 1 through December 3, 2010. The study tracks unique inventions within the categories of Aerospace, Agrochemicals & Agriculture, Automotive, Computers & Peripherals, Cosmetics, Domestic Appliances, Food, Tobacco & Fermentation, Medical Devices, Petroleum & Chemical Engineering, Pharmaceuticals, Semiconductors, and Telecommunications.

To view the full 2010 Innovation Report: Twelve Key Technology Areas and Their States of Innovation, go to http://ip.thomsonreuters.com/InnovationReport2010

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