Thomson Reuters Releases Report on the State of Global Innovation

By Thomson Reuters, PRNE
Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Aerospace increases 25%; semiconductors decreases 9% in analysis of leading technology areas

EAGAN, Minnesota, January 12, 2011 - Innovation levels, as measured by patent volume, shifted across 12 major
technology areas from 2009 to 2010, according to the second annual analysis
of world patent activity published by the IP Solutions business of Thomson
Reuters. The 2010 Innovation Report: Twelve Key Technology Areas and Their
States of Innovation tracks patent activity in key technology areas using the
Thomson Reuters Derwent World Patents Index(R) (DWPI(SM)) database, the
world's most trusted source of patent information.

(Photo: photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110112/NY28351)

Key findings between 2009 and 2010 innovation data include:

    -- Aerospace technology area blasts into a new orbit: In addition to
       increasing overall activity by 25% year over year, the largest
       aerospace subsector increase from 2009 to 2010 occurred in the field
       of Space Vehicles and Satellite Technology, which jumped up 108%. The
       three companies in this area were Japanese manufacturer Sharp,
       followed by Korean manufacturers LG and Samsung.

    -- Semiconductor innovation short circuits: The Semiconductor technology
       area saw the largest drop in innovation activity across the 12 areas
       tracked, falling 9% last year. The drop was driven by subsector
       declines in Integrated Circuits; Discrete Devices; and Memories, Film
       & Hybrid Circuits. The one Semiconductor subsector showing growth in
       2010 was Materials and Processes. The innovators with the most patent
       activity in this subsector were Korean manufacturers Samsung and Hynix
       Semiconductor, followed by Japan's Toshiba.

    -- Computers & Peripherals tops the list of the most innovative
       technology areas with the highest volume of patent activity for second
       consecutive year, despite an overall decline from 2009: The Computers
       & Peripherals technology area published 212,622 unique inventions in
       2010, earning it the top slot among the 12 areas in the analysis.
       However, this is a 6% decline from the level seen in 2009.

The data in this report was compiled using the Thomson Reuters DWPI
database, aggregating granted patents and published applications (examined
and unexamined) from January 1 through December 3, 2010. The study tracks
unique inventions within the categories of Aerospace, Agrochemicals &
Agriculture, Automotive, Computers & Peripherals, Cosmetics, Domestic
Appliances, Food, Tobacco & Fermentation, Medical Devices, Petroleum &
Chemical Engineering, Pharmaceuticals, Semiconductors, and
Telecommunications.

To view the full 2010 Innovation Report: Twelve Key Technology Areas and
Their States of Innovation, go to
ip.thomsonreuters.com/InnovationReport2010

About Thomson Reuters

Thomson Reuters is the world's leading source of intelligent information
for businesses and professionals. We combine industry expertise with
innovative technology to deliver critical information to leading decision
makers in the financial, legal, tax and accounting, healthcare and science
and media markets, powered by the world's most trusted news organization.
With headquarters in New York and major operations in London and Eagan,
Minnesota
, Thomson Reuters employs 55,000 people and operates in over 100
countries. Thomson Reuters shares are listed on the Toronto and New York
Stock Exchanges. For more information, go to www.thomsonreuters.com.

Laura Gaze, Senior Marketing Manager, IP Solutions, +1-203-868-3340, laura.gaze at thomsonreuters.com; John Roderick, Principal, J. Roderick Inc., +1-631-656-9736, john at jroderick.com

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