Olympus 2013 Annual Report Download - page 25

46 OLYMPUS Annual Report 2013 47OLYMPUS Annual Report 2013
How can OLYMPUS increase
corporate value?
Intellectual Property Report
1. Number of Patent Applications Published in Japan
and Overseas in Core Competence Areas
(1) Japan
The number of patent applications published in Japan
increased from the previous fi scal year in Optical
Technology, Electronic and Imaging Technology,
Precision Technology, and Biomechanical and Biological
Fundamental Technology. The Company carefully selects
which inventions should be fi led for patents and willingly
seeks patents for valuable inventions.
(2) Overseas
The number of patent applications published overseas
showed an overall increase from the previous fi scal year
as a result of increases in Optical Technology and
Electronic and Imaging Technology, remaining largely
unchanged from average years in Biomechanical and
Biological Fundamental Technology, and a decrease in
Precision Technology. This is because the Company has
continuously taken measures to increase overseas
applications for the purpose of globalization, including
enhanced expansion of business into emerging
countries. Particularly in China, the number of published
patent applications grew in Optical Technology and
Electronic and Imaging Technology.
2. Breakdown of Patents in Core Competence Areas
as Part of All Patents Held
The core competence areas account for 59% of the
total patents held, which is unchanged from the
previous fi scal year.
The percentage of each core competence area to the
total did not signifi cantly change and Optical Technology
and Electronic and Imaging Technology accounted for
46% of the total.
Change in the number of patents held by country over the
past fi ve years is shown in the graph. As with the previous
year, the Company promoted the activity to acquire rights
under the policy to increase the number of patents to be
acquired overseas.
The number of patents held in Japan in the fi scal year
ended March 31, 2013, increased by 9%. The number of
patents held overseas increased by 13%, and the ratio of
overseas patents to all patents held increased to 50%, 1
percentage point higher than the previous fi scal year.
Overview of Intellectual Property Activities in Core Competence Areas
Number of Patents Held by Country
0
200
400
600
800 723 741
514
583
543
505
739
644
305
255
376
405
456
138
131
206
205
171
2009/3 2010/3 2011/3 2012/3 2013/3
Biomechanical and Biological
Fundamental Technology
Precision Technology
Electronic and Imaging Technology
Optical Technology
646
702
0
50
150
100
200
250
350
300
256 230
160 195
253
322
230
257
279
272
Biomechanical and Biological
Fundamental Technology
Precision Technology
Electronic and Imaging Technology
Optical Technology
2009/3 2010/3 2011/3 2012/3 2013/3
64
62
57
53
93
47
68
27
44
70
Others
China
United States
Japan
0
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
2009/3 2010/3 2011/3 2012/3 2013/3
Number of Patent Applications
Published in Japan in
Core Competence Areas
(Number of published patent applications)
Number of Patent Applications
Published Overseas in
Core Competence Areas
(Number of published patent applications)
Number of Patents Held by Country
(Number of patents)
Core Competence Area Ratios as Part
of All Patents Held
Electronic and Imaging
Technology
17%
Precision Technology
8%
Biomechanical and
Biological Fundamental
Technology
5%
Optical Technology
29%
Other Product-Related
Technologies
41%
The Olympus Group strives to realize better health and happiness for people by being
an integral member of society, sharing common values, and proposing new values
through its business activities. This core philosophy, which we call “Social IN,”
underpins all of our business activities. Striving to realize the ideal embodied in this
philosophy, we work to fulfi ll our responsibility toward society and are in constant
pursuit of heightened corporate value. In this section, we explain the Company’s
foundations and social contribution activities.
FY2013