Canon 2011 Annual Report Download - page 30

Download and view the complete annual report

Please find page 30 of the 2011 Canon annual report below. You can navigate through the pages in the report by either clicking on the pages listed below, or by using the keyword search tool below to find specific information within the annual report.

Page out of 104

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
  • 13
  • 14
  • 15
  • 16
  • 17
  • 18
  • 19
  • 20
  • 21
  • 22
  • 23
  • 24
  • 25
  • 26
  • 27
  • 28
  • 29
  • 30
  • 31
  • 32
  • 33
  • 34
  • 35
  • 36
  • 37
  • 38
  • 39
  • 40
  • 41
  • 42
  • 43
  • 44
  • 45
  • 46
  • 47
  • 48
  • 49
  • 50
  • 51
  • 52
  • 53
  • 54
  • 55
  • 56
  • 57
  • 58
  • 59
  • 60
  • 61
  • 62
  • 63
  • 64
  • 65
  • 66
  • 67
  • 68
  • 69
  • 70
  • 71
  • 72
  • 73
  • 74
  • 75
  • 76
  • 77
  • 78
  • 79
  • 80
  • 81
  • 82
  • 83
  • 84
  • 85
  • 86
  • 87
  • 88
  • 89
  • 90
  • 91
  • 92
  • 93
  • 94
  • 95
  • 96
  • 97
  • 98
  • 99
  • 100
  • 101
  • 102
  • 103
  • 104

28
2011 TOP TEN U.S. PATENT HOLDERS
BY COMPANY
Panasonic
CANON
Toshiba
Microsoft
Sony
Seiko Epson
Hon Hai
Precision
Industry
Hitachi
IBM*
Samsung
Electronics
2,566
2,813
2,478
2,306
2,282
1,535
1,485
1,464
6,163
4,899
* IBM is an abbreviation for International Business
Machines Corporation.
Source: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Calculated
based upon publicly disclosed weekly totals
EXPANSION OF OUR INNOVATION CENTERS
Canon’s growth to date has been attributable to employing strong technologies
to develop competitive products, mainly in Japan, and then disseminating those
offerings around the world. Going forward, the Company will set up innovation
centers in Europe and the United States as well, laying the foundation for the
Three Regional Headquarters management system that Canon envisions.
In the United States, Canon will set up centers to pursue activities rang-
ing from research into fundamental technologies in healthcare and other
new business fields to the application of cutting-edge technologies. In
Europe, the Company will reinforce R&D on business products, spearheaded
by Oc±N.V., in addition to R&D in new business fields.
R&D EXPENSES AND PATENTS
Canon is bolstering R&D activities to enable the ongoing development of
innovative products and services. In the year under review, R&D expenses
amounted to ¥307.8 billion, down 2.5%, or ¥8.0 billion, from the previous year.
The ratio of R&D expenses to net sales was 8.7%. By segment, the Company
allocated ¥103.4 billion (33.6% of total R&D expenses) to the Office Business
RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
Canon is actively advancing research and development activities, which may take a relatively long time. For example,
the Company is currently engaged in the development of next-generation printing material technology.
MANAGEMENT SYSTEM>RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
Seeking new possibilities
for Canon, the Company is
establishing R&D structures
in Japan, the United States,
and Europe under a Three
Regional Headquarters
management system.
At the same time, Canon
will develop the medical
and industrial fields into
new business pillars.