Research and innovation in big data in the medical sector has declined in the last quarter – but remains higher than it was a year ago.
The most recent figures show that the number of big data related patent applications in the industry stood at 81 in the three months ending January – up from 71 over the same period in 2021.
Figures for patent grants related to big data followed a different pattern to filings – shrinking from 47 in the three months ending January 2021 to 41 in the same period in 2022.
The figures are compiled by GlobalData, who track patent filings and grants from official offices around the world. Using textual analysis, as well as official patent classifications, these patents are grouped into key thematic areas, and linked to key companies across various industries.
Big data is one of the key areas tracked by GlobalData. It has been identified as being a key disruptive force facing companies in the coming years, and is one of the areas that companies investing resources in now are expected to reap rewards from.
The figures also provide an insight into the largest innovators in the sector.
F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd was the top big data innovator in the medical sector in the latest quarter. The company, which has its headquarters in Switzerland, filed 42 big data related patents in the three months ending January. That was up from 15 over the same period in 2021.
It was followed by the United States based Johnson & Johnson with 15 big data patent applications, Germany based Sartorius AG (12 applications), and the United States based Abbott Laboratories (10 applications).
F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd has recently ramped up R&D in big data. It saw growth of 64.3% in related patent applications in the three months ending January compared to the same period in 2021 - the highest percentage growth out of all companies tracked with more than 10 quarterly patents in the medical sector.