Epson Wins Again

Epson has been listed among the Clarivate Top 100 Global Innovators 2023 announced by global information services firm Clarivate Plc. This represents the 10th time that Epson has been named to the list since its inception in 2012. Epson’s intellectual property Epson emphasises a proactive, forward-looking intellectual property strategy and considers its unique, advanced core technologies to be its most important asset.

Piezo printheads are a core device in the printing sector. Epson own more patents related to these printheads than anyone else in the industry1. This IP differentiates Epson from its competitors and is being actively developed or used in new inkjet printer products. General Administrative Manager of the Epson Intellectual Property Division, Toshihiko Kobayashi said, “It’s an honour to be selected as one of the Top 100 Global Innovators. Last September, we publicly announced our aspirations in a corporate purpose statement that reads, “Our philosophy of efficient, compact and precise innovation enriches lives and helps create a better world.”

Epson’s inkjet multifunction printers are equipped with Epson’s unique heat-free printhead technology. This technology has several key advantages, including reduced CO2 emissions2 and less frequent replacement of consumables and limited lifetime parts. Epson’s technology helps to solve societal issues like these and is protected by intellectual property rights. It underpins Epson’s sustainability efforts. The top priority of the company’s IP activities is, and will continue to be, finding ways to use Epson’s strengths to help solve societal issues.”

The Clarivate Top 100 Global Innovators Clarivate compares and analyses invention data from around the world, assesses the quality of patent ideas using indicators directly linked to innovativeness and annually selects companies and organisations that are at the top of the global innovation ecosystem and continuously demonstrate outstanding innovation performance.

A twin track approach is used in evaluations. The first track focuses on identifying innovating companies and organisations based on the number of patent applications filed and patents held. An ‘international factor’ is then calculated based on the rate and scale of international inventions. The second track scores them on four factors — influence, success, globalisation, and rarity — and a comparison against all other patent ideas is made.