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Olympus reports on the results of the intellectual property activities of
the Olympus Group (“Olympus Corporation,” “Olympus Medical Systems
Corp.” and “Olympus Imaging Corp.,” collectively, “Olympus”) in the
fiscal year ended March 31, 2012
Core Technology and R&D Efficiency
Olympus’s core competence is in Opto-Digital Technology, a fusion of optical
technologies accumulated by Olympus over many years and the latest digital
technologies. In order to further strengthen this core competence, Olympus
has positioned the following technologies as fundamental and common to
the Olympus Group as a whole: Optical Technology—the technologies of
capturing and controlling light; Electronic and Imaging Technology—the
digitization and manipulation of images captured from light; Precision
Technologies—the technologies to create products accurately and control
them precisely; and Biomechanical and Biological Fundamental
Technology—technologies for live cell observation and technologies for cell
separation and culturing indispensable for the realization of regenerative
medicine. By sharpening its competitive edge through the concentrated
injection of R&D resources, Olympus creates new value in the Medical, Life
Science & Industrial, and Imaging businesses.
Olympus’ consolidated net sales in fiscal 2012, resulting from
businesses based on the above technological core competences, were
¥848.5 billion, 0.2% higher compared with the previous year. Olympus’ R&D
expenditures in fiscal 2012 amounted to approximately ¥61.4 billion,
equivalent to 7.2% of net sales. As a result, the ratio of R&D expenditures to
net sales (calculated from net sales and R&D expenditures for the past five
years) rose from 6.5% to 7.0%. R&D efficiency fell from 1.8 the previous
year to 1.3 as a result of operating income remaining level with last year’s
figure, along with the impact of the Great East Japan Earthquake, the flooding
in Thailand and the yen’s appreciation, amid continued investment in R&D.
Overview of Intellectual Property Activities in Core
Competence Areas
1. Number of Patent Applications Published in Japan and Overseas in Core
Competence Areas
(1) Japan
The number of patent applications published in Japan decreased year on
year in the areas of Optical Technology, Electronic and Imaging Technology,
Precision Technology, and Biomechanical and Biological Fundamental
Technology alike. The decrease is attributable to a more rigorous selection of
patent applications in response to the impact of the global financial crisis.
(2) Overseas
The number of patent applications published overseas increased year on
year overall, increasing in the areas of Optical Technology, Precision
Technology, and Biomechanical and Biological Fundamental Technology and
decreasing in the area of Electronic and Imaging Technology. The overall
increase is attributable to a policy of increasing overseas applications in
preparation for globalization of business activities, among which is further
business expansion in emerging markets.
R&D Expenditures to Net Sales, R&D Efficiency
Note:
This graph illustrates the effect of prior investment in R&D activities on operating income by
showing R&D efficiency calculated on a five-year cumulative basis. For example, fiscal 2012 R&D
efficiency was calculated by dividing cumulative operating income for fiscal 2008 through 2012 by
cumulative R&D expenditures for fiscal 2003 through 2007. R&D expenditures to net sales for
fiscal 2012 is calculated by dividing the five-year cumulative R&D expenditures (fiscal 2008–2012)
by the five-year cumulative net sales (year ended March 31, fiscal 2008–2012). All figures are
reported on a consolidated basis.
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 (FY)
(%) (%)
2.5
2.0
1.5
1.0
0.5
0
20
16
12
8
4
0
R&D expenditures to net sales (right axis)R&D efficiency (left axis)
5.6 5.5 5.5 5.7 5.9 6.5 7.0
1.7
2.0
2.3
2.0 2.1
1.8
1.3
Number of Patent Applications Published in Japan
in Core Competence Areas
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 (FY)
(Number of published patent applications)
1,000
500
0
273
495
735
986
206
455
791
872
159
406
548
710
171
456
644
723
205
405
739
741
206
376
702
646
131
255
514
505
Optical Technology Electronic and Imaging
Technology
Precision Technology Biomechanical and Biological
Fundamental Technology
Intellectual Property Report
OLYMPUS 󱚈 Annual Report 2012
56