The automotive industry continues to be a hotbed of patent innovation. Activity is driven by the need for achieving higher fuel efficiency, and enhanced driving experience, and growing importance of technologies such as electric, connected and autonomous vehicles. In the last three years alone, there have been over 720,000 patents filed and granted in the automotive industry, according to GlobalData’s report on Fuel cells in automotive: fuel cell ion exchange membranes. Buy the report here.
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According to GlobalData’s Technology Foresights, which uses over one million patents to analyze innovation intensity for the automotive industry, there are 300+ innovation areas that will shape the future of the industry.
Fuel cell ion exchange membranes is a key innovation area in fuel cells
The proton-exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC), also referred to as the polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEM), is a kind of fuel cell that is being developed as an alternative to batteries. These fuel cells can be utilised for applications in automotive as well as stationary fuel-cell applications and portable fuel-cell applications.
GlobalData’s analysis also uncovers the companies at the forefront of each innovation area and assesses the potential reach and impact of their patenting activity across different applications and geographies. According to GlobalData, there are 290+ companies, spanning technology vendors, established automotive companies, and up-and-coming start-ups engaged in the development and application of fuel cell ion exchange membranes.
Key players in fuel cell ion exchange membranes – a disruptive innovation in the automotive industry
‘Application diversity’ measures the number of applications identified for each patent. It broadly splits companies into either ‘niche’ or ‘diversified’ innovators.
‘Geographic reach’ refers to the number of countries each patent is registered in. It reflects the breadth of geographic application intended, ranging from ‘global’ to ‘local’.
Patent volumes related to fuel cell ion exchange membranes
| Company | Total patents (2021 - 2023) | Premium intelligence on the world's largest companies |
| NOK | 45 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Fujifilm | 130 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Toyota Motor | 37 | Unlock Company Profile |
| NACCO Materials Handling Group | 73 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Toray Industries | 40 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Robert Bosch Stiftung | 20 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Kolon Industries | 95 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Forderung der Angewandten Forschung | 18 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Hyundai Motor | 83 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Nissan Motor | 22 | Unlock Company Profile |
| CEA | 18 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique | 19 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Kraton | 23 | Unlock Company Profile |
| ThyssenKrupp | 15 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Tokyo Gas | 21 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Panasonic | 140 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Asahi Kasei | 15 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Sawafuji Electric | 37 | Unlock Company Profile |
| ITM Power | 25 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Raytheon Technologies | 23 | Unlock Company Profile |
| BASF | 53 | Unlock Company Profile |
| FuelCell Energy | 76 | Unlock Company Profile |
| LG | 22 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Sumitomo Chemical | 21 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Honeywell International | 24 | Unlock Company Profile |
| AGC | 60 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Mitsubishi Chemical Group | 15 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Kia | 43 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Sumitomo Electric Industries | 36 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Electricite de France | 14 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Kolon | 203 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Hyet | 30 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Meditor European Master Fund | 31 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Linde | 16 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Membrion | 20 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Renaissance Energy Investment | 38 | Unlock Company Profile |
| The French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission | 25 | Unlock Company Profile |
Source: GlobalData Patent Analytics
Fujifilm is one of the key players in fuel cell ion exchange membranes. The company created a membrane portfolio to meet the needs of its customers, ranging from low electrical resistance membranes to low water permeating membranes with durability over a broad pH range. Kolon, Kolon Industries, Panasonic, Hyundai Motor, and FuelCell Energy are some of the other leading patent filers.
In terms of application diversity, ThyssenKrupp held the top position, while NACCO Materials Handling and Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin stood in second and third positions, respectively. By means of geographic reach, ThyssenKrupp leads the pack, followed by NACCO Materials Handling and Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin.
To further understand the key themes and technologies disrupting the automotive industry, access GlobalData’s latest thematic research report on Automotive.
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GlobalData, the leading provider of industry intelligence, provided the underlying data, research, and analysis used to produce this article.
GlobalData’s Patent Analytics tracks patent filings and grants from official offices around the world. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.
