Analytics company Clarivate published its Top 100 Global Innovators list for 2022 on March 31, in which nine Taiwanese institutions were recognized for their innovative capabilities.

Those nine Taiwanese institutions are: AU Optronics (AUO), Delta Electronics, Foxconn, MediaTek, Quanta Computer, Realtek Semiconductor, TSMC, Wistron, and the government research institute ITRI.

It is the first time for AUO, Delta Electronics, Realtek Semiconductor and Wistron to make it to the list. And TSMC and MediaTek returned after several years of lapses.

The company pointed out that entry to the list has become harder, because companies must meet all the four factors (volume, influence, success, and globalization) and occur consistently within the activity of qualifying entities.

And the 2022 list also reflects the ongoing trends including regional diversity and technology development efforts within the industry seeing a 100% increase in inclusion of automotive firms. General Motors and Hyundai made it to the 2020 and 2021 list, while Ford, Volkswagen, Kia Motors entered this year to join Honda and Toyota, which have enjoyed 11-times Top 100 Global Innovator status.

In terms of geographic distribution, Japan is the winner, taking away 35 seats out of the 100 Top Global Innovators, followed by the US with 18. Germany and Taiwan each has nine, while France has eight. China and South Korea each has five.

Clarivate pointed out that they create an International Innovator Weighting Factor by comparing innovators based on the proportion and level of international inventions (ideas patented in more than one country or region). The second track of evaluation is judging the influence, success, globalization, and technical distinctiveness of all patented ideas to form a Derwent Strength Index. By multiplying the International Innovator Weighting Factors and the Derwent Strength Index, the result is the Global Innovator Score from which the Top 100 Global Innovator ranking is obtained.

Source: Clarivate, 2022/4

By DIGITIMES