Research and innovation in industrial automation in the clinical trial operations sector has stagnated in the last quarter.
The most recent figures show that the number of industrial automation patent applications in the industry stood at 93 in the three months ending October – down from 105 over the same period last year.
Go deeper with GlobalData
Figures for patent grants related to industrial automation followed a similar pattern to filings – shrinking from 66 in the three months ending October last year to 62 this year.
The figures are compiled by GlobalData, who track patent filings and grants from official offices around the world. Using textual analysis, as well as official patent classifications, these patents are grouped into key thematic areas, and linked to key companies across various industries.
Industrial automation is one of the key areas tracked by GlobalData. It has been identified as being a key disruptive force facing companies in the coming years, and is one of the areas that companies investing resources in now are expected to reap rewards from.
How well do you really know your competitors?
Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.
Thank you!
Your download email will arrive shortly
Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample
We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form
By GlobalDataThe figures also provide an insight into the largest innovators in the sector.
Johnson & Johnson was the top industrial automation innovator in the clinical trial operations sector in the last quarter. The company, which has its headquarters in the United States, filed 96 industrial automation related patents in the three months ending October. That was down from 117 over the same period last year.
It was followed by the United States based Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc with 51 industrial automation patent applications, Germany based Sartorius AG (21 applications), and Switzerland based F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd (18 applications).
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc has recently ramped up R&D in industrial automation. It saw growth of 29.4% in related patent applications in the three months ending October compared to the same period last year - the highest percentage growth out of all companies tracked with more than 10 quarterly patents in the clinical trial operations sector.
