ABB has moved up to second place for patent applications among Swiss companies, with 540 submissions, according to the European Patent Office’s (EPO) Patent Index for 2024. This marks a rise from fourth place in 2023.
The annual Patent Index, published by the EPO in Munich, Germany, highlights global leaders in patent filings. ABB was the only company in Switzerland’s top five to experience a year-on-year increase in patent applications (+10.7%), also advancing nine positions in the global rankings from 45th to 36th place.
“Research and development at ABB is driven by the company’s 19 divisions, focusing on the creation and commercialization of technologies critical for future growth,” said Morten Wierod, CEO of ABB. “Our standing in the European Patent Office’s ranking reflects our commitment to continuous innovation and developing world-class technologies that push industries to new heights in performance and sustainability.”
The achievement highlights the efforts of ABB’s inventors and the broader intellectual property and innovation teams. The company has 7,800 employees across R&D centers in nearly 30 countries, with more than half of them focused on digital and software development. ABB is currently managing over 250 projects in Artificial Intelligence (AI), covering innovations within its advanced software and digital offerings.
Leveraging 140 years of engineering expertise, ABB is increasing its investments in research and development, as well as technology ventures, to drive the development of cutting-edge technologies. In 2024, ABB made nine new venture investments and eight follow-up investments, totaling around $50 million across its four business areas. Over the past few years, the company has ramped up its R&D spending, with a 40% increase since 2020. In 2024, ABB allocated $1.47 billion, or approximately 4.5% of its consolidated revenues, to R&D, marking a 12% year-on-year growth.
ABB is a global leader in electrification and automation, helping industries operate more sustainably and efficiently. With a history spanning over 140 years and a workforce of approximately 110,000 people worldwide, ABB’s mission is to enable industries to achieve superior performance. The company’s shares are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (ABBN) and Nasdaq Stockholm.
