Omron 2013 Annual Report Download - page 33

62 Omron Corporation Integrated Report 2013 63
Corporate Value Foundation
Establishment and Implementation of the
Omron Intellectual Property Guidelines
Omron has established the Omron Intellectual Property Guidelines,
based on the Management Principles, to serve as guiding principles
and judgment criteria for the execution of activities related to intel-
lectual property. In addition, under the Intellectual Property Policy,
derived from the Omron Intellectual Property Guidelines, the Company
formulates an intellectual property strategy that is consistent with its
business and technical strategies and implements that strategy.
Intellectual Property Activities
Contributing to Business
The Intellectual Property Center prioritizes and determines the
degree of importance of research projects, in accordance with our
business strategies, and carries out the formulation of intellectual
property strategies in a focused manner, with the objective of
contributing to business through the effi cient and effective use of
management resources. Specifi cally, in the core Industrial Automa-
tion (IA) Business (IAB & EMC), we aim to secure high growth rates
and signifi cant profi tability during the period of our Value Generation
2020 (VG2020) long-term strategy. To this end, the Center will
strengthen ties with business divisions and clearly identify the
competitive circumstances surrounding key product lines. We expect
that this will enable us to advance more precise intellectual property
strategies. The Center also identifi es and analyzes technological
trends in growth markets, such as the environment and healthcare
markets. Based on the fi ndings, the Center establishes intellectual
property strategies in cooperation with business divisions to ensure
the divisions are fully prepared to create an Omron-style business
using fundamental Omron technology and to respond swiftly when
the markets begin expanding. Further, the Center is responsible for
developing intellectual property portfolios in conjunction with busi-
ness strategies and in response to the globalization of Omron’s
business. By accelerating the acquisition of intellectual property
rights in countries that represent important markets for Omron’s
future ahead of the advancement of business globalization
strategies, the Center aims to remove the obstacles that might
impede business divisions when they operate in these countries.
Over the long term, the Center contributes to the growth of our
business value through intellectual property by strengthening internal
coordination to respond to future business globalization and rapidly
changing market conditions. We are accurately assessing our core
technologies, creating an organized map of our businesses and
technologies, and thus connecting our vertical businesses horizon-
tally by leveraging our intellectual property strengths.
Strengthening Globalization of Intellectual Property
Omron is working harder on its intellectual property in conjunction
with the globalization of its business. In particular, the Singapore site
is positioned as a hub that is capable of consolidating patent applica-
tions and fi lings for those innovations created by the Group globally.
At the same time, the headquarters is developing the systems
necessary to support intellectual property activities in general in the
Asia Pacifi c region, which is anticipated to experience rapid market
growth. In addition, we have expanded both our production and
development activities in China. As such, we aim to greatly enhance
our intellectual property in this country to support localized innova-
tion. To this end, we are providing intensive training for Chinese staff
to cultivate local intellectual property management and specialist
staff that will be key to this innovation. Similarly, in the United States
and Europe, we are strengthening intellectual property systems and
cultivating related regionally oriented staff.
Thus, we are making steady progress in fortifying our foundation
for intellectual property through the active cultivation of staff at all
our operating sites who can contribute to the Group’s business
success with intellectual property expertise. We are also establishing
a global intellectual property management system and reducing
intellectual property risks to strengthen the foundation of this global
intellectual property management system.
Intellectual Property Strategy
Enhancing Profitability and Promoting Business Growth
The Intellectual Property Center defends high-value technical assets to boost the Group’s competitive strengths and
protects and effectively utilizes the Company’s patents, brand names, and expertise to maximize the Omron Group’s
long-term corporate value. The Center raises the success rate of the Group’s business activities and contributes to
enhancing the profi tability and promoting the business growth of the Omron Group.
Total number of
intellectual
properties held:
11,367
(as of
March 31, 2013)
JapanOverseas
Trademark rights
12%
Design rights
12%
Patent rights,
Utility model rights
27%
Patent rights,
Utility model rights
30%
Design rights
10%
Trademark rights
9%
Intellectual Property and R&D-Related Data
Fiscal Year 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
Number of patents:
Applications 1,119 794 901 1,068 1,084
Approvals 826 730 753 915 1,172
Total patents 5,205 5,218 5,452 5,959 6,448
R&D expenses (billions of yen) 48.9 37.8 41.3 42.1 43.5
R&D expenses / Sales ratio 7.7% 7.2% 6.7% 6.8% 6.7%
Omron Intellectual Property Guidelines
1. Create high-quality intellectual property
2. Aggressively utilize intellectual property
3. Respect, protect, and manage intellectual property
4. Recognize Omron’s strengths and functions are based
on intellectual property
Intellectual Property Holdings in Japan and Overseas
R&D
Omron aims to provide society with higher levels
of safety, security, and healthcare and eco-friendly
products and services. To that end, we are constantly
developing new technologies and products.
Omron Will Concentrate on Strengthening 10 Areas of Technology
Omron has continually worked on enhancing its core “Sensing and Control” technologies with the aim of contributing
to the development of the “post-industrial society.” In Omron’s long-term management strategy, Value Generation
2020, we set the following 10 areas of technology as areas to strengthen through increased R&D with an eye to future
needs. Through reinforcing these10 areas throughout the Omron Group, we are aiming to optimize performance, cost,
and speed in order to respond to intensifying global competition.
10 Areas of Technology
Extracting needed data from a range of information and processing this
in a more intelligent way to create greater value
Methodology and facilities designed to realize greater productivity
Creating technological innovations through collaborative development utilizing
original technologies and open technologies
Through development process innovation, we aim to greatly enhance
technology development effi ciency in order to be able to create new products
with overwhelming speed.
Sensing & control
+ intelligence
technologies
Methodology
and facility
technologies
Utilization
of open
technologies
Technology
development
effi ciency
enhancement
1. Detection, identifi cation,
and recognition technologies
5. Materials and methods technologies
7. Network technologies
9. Computer-aided engineering (CAE)
3. Control technologies
2. Power electronics design
technologies
6. Facility and process technologies
8. Embedded technologies
10. Development processes
4. Knowledge information technologies