State-backed ITRI was recognized for its long list of scientific achievements. These include investing in applied research, software and services to help industries innovate and stay competitive, as well as transforming Taiwan from a labor-intensive industry into a value-added, technology-driven economy.
In addition, the Hsinchu County-headquartered outfit had 3,523 patents granted from 2009 to 2013 worldwide and recorded nearly 4,000 citations during the same period.
ITRI Executive Vice President Chang Shuo-hung said Jan. 26 that the award proves that in the fields of patents and intellectual property, ITRI is on par with its counterparts in Europe.
“We have evolved from a cutting-edge science and technology-related firm to one partnering with local industry and bringing more products to market,” he said. “Startups are also our focus, especially those considered risky and demanding relatively long and complicated R&D.”
Echoing Chang’s remarks, Tony Kinnear, managing director of ASEAN and North Asia of Thomson Reuters, said the award “is a recognition of the ITRI organization’s drive for excellence in innovation.” Kinnear is in Taiwan to present ITRI and MediaTek with their awards.
MediaTek, a Hsinchu City-based semiconductor company providing system-on-chip solutions for Blu-ray, high-definition TV and wireless communications, was included in the Top 100 Global Innovators on the strength of its innovative thinking for the 21st century and successful combination of new ideas with corporate strategy.
According to MediaTek Chairman Tsai Ming-kai, the technology environment has grown rapidly, making it immediately fulfill requests while ensuring lasting investment. “The challenge we face is how to strike the right balance between instant results and planning for the future,” he said.
ITRI and MediaTek’s naming to the Top 100 Global Innovators is not the first time for a Taiwan firm to achieve the honor. In 2013, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd.—also based in Hsinchu City—was included in the prestigious list.
The Top 100 Global Innovators was launched by Thomson Reuters in 2011, with this year’s lineup including such giants as Apple Inc., Microsoft Corp., Samsung Electronics Co. and Sony Corp. Its methodology takes into account overall patent volume, patent grant success rate, global reach of the portfolio and patent influence as evidence by citations. (WY-JSM)
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