Sharp, Canon, Sanyo Take Top 3 Spots in Photovoltaic Technology Ranking
by Mami Akasaka, Tech-On!, Jun 4, 2008
Source: TechOn
http://techon.nikkeibp.co.jp/english/NEWS_EN/20080604/152849/
A consulting firm evaluated the technological competitiveness of Japanese companies involved in photovoltaic business and ranked Sharp, Canon and Sanyo as the top three. Intellectual Property Bank Corp (IPB), a consulting firm specializing in intellectual property right, compiled the “applicant score ranking.” The “applicant score” is its proprietary indicator, which is designed to evaluate applicants’ patent strength based on the quality and number of patents filed. Sharp Corp, Canon Inc and Sanyo Electric Co Ltd were ranked first, second and third, respectively.
Sharp has the edge in various kinds of solar cells such as crystalline Si, compound and organic solar cells and filed the largest number of patents. The company took first place both in the rankings of crystalline Si and organic solar cells, according to IPB. Canon reportedly has a high level of competitiveness especially in amorphous Si solar cell technology, although it has already withdrawn from the photovoltaic business. Sanyo was highly regarded for its strength in amorphous and crystalline Si solar cells.
The rankings cover the companies, universities, research institutes and individuals that have filed patent applications on solar cell-related technologies with the Japan Patent Office. IPB compiled the ranking based on the Laid-Open Patent Gazette published from January 1993 to January 2008 (approximately 6,400 patents). Kaneka Corp took fourth place, followed by Kyocera Corp, the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Matsushita Electric Industrial Co Ltd, Fujifilm Corp, Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co Ltd and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd.