Omron 2010 Annual Report Download - page 52

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52
Intellectual Property Activities Contributing to Business
The Intellectual Property Center invests in intellectual prop-
erty focused on core business themes with the objective
of contributing to business through the efficient and effec-
tive use of limited management resources. Investments
are made from the immediate perspective of fortifying cur-
rent core businesses and from the long-term perspective
of advancing in the direction of next-generation techno-
logical innovation to ensure that the core businesses will
remain vital in the future.
Investment target areas are selected using rigorous
reviews of the investment effects and follow a policy of
focusing necessary investment in areas determined to be
absolutely essential, such as to reduce business risks and
improve business positioning.
The Center also conducts identification and analysis of
technological trends in new markets, such as the devel-
oping energy market, to ensure we are fully prepared “to
create an Omron-style business using fundamental Omron
technology” and respond swiftly to business opportuni-
ties that may appear when the markets begin expanding.
The Center conducts operations that contribute to the
maximization of the results of developmental investment
by strengthening the Group’s internal coordination and abil-
ity to respond to rapidly changing market conditions. This
is done by looking at the Group’s fundamental technolo-
gies through a larger framework and by firmly incorporating
them into each business unit’s operations. The Center is
a key component for supporting the growth of Omron’s
business value over the long term.
Promoting Globalization of Intellectual Property
Capabilities
The globalization of our intellectual property has been
advancing ahead of the Omron Group’s global business
development.
In China, we have expanded both our production and
development capabilities and are establishing intellectual
property functions to support localized innovation. With
the aim of greatly enhancing our intellectual property capa-
bilities in China, we are also providing intensive training for
Chinese staff to cultivate local intellectual property man-
agement and specialist staff. Similar training and staff
development programs are being conducted at local sub-
sidiaries in the United States.
We are also laying the foundation for future intellectu-
al property management in other newly industrializing
economies with the potential for rapid market expansion,
and are currently creating a structure that will enable ini-
tial control from within Japan.
We are making steady progress fortifying our founda-
tion for global intellectual property capabilities through the
active cultivation of staff capable of providing significant
contributions to the Group’s intellectual property at our
global operating sites. We are also establishing an intel-
lectual property management system and reducing
intellectual property risks to achieve results that are key
components of strong global intellectual capabilities.
Intellectual Property Strategy
Intellectual Property and R&D-related Data
Number of patents
Applications
Approvals
Total patents
R&D expenses (billions of yen)
Sales/R&D expense ratio
R&D staff (number of employees)
794
730
5,218
37.8
7.2%
1,449
2009
1,119
826
5,205
48.9
7.7%
1,509
2008
1,255
943
5,717
51.5
6.7%
1,622
2007
1,300
836
5,206
52.0
7.1%
1,630
1,509
705
4,538
50.5
8.1%
1,591
20062005
Fiscal Year
02 03 04 05 06 07 0908
Patent Applications and Approvals in the United States
(FY)
Applications Approvals
0
50
100
150
200
77 81
99
83
119
132
82
88
137
44
178 169 163 157
127
62
02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09
Patent Applications in China
(FY)
Applications
0
50
100
150
200
105
150 162 160
142
120
73 79
The Intellectual Property Center cultivates high-value technical assets to boost the Group’s competitive strength,
enhances the effectiveness of the Group’s investment in research and development, and contributes to raising the
success rate of the Group’s business activities. Serving as a bridge between the Group’s technology and business
operations, the Center contributes to enhancing the profitability and promoting the growth of the Omron Group.
The Center plays a crucial role in technology management, carrying out activities that will enable the Omron Group
to continue maximizing its corporate value over the long term.