IFI CLAIMS examined US patent filings from 2013–2017 to determine the fastest growing technologies and the companies with the most applications in each classification.

1. Eight Fast
Growing Technologies
As measured by increases in
US patent applications from 2013–2017
@2018 IFI CLAIMS Patent Services

2. IFI Methodology
• We computed Compound Annual Growth Rate
(CAGR) for all 4-character CPC codes from 2013
to 2017, using published patent applications.
• CPC codes were then plotted using CAGR and
2017 application count. Application counts are
plotted on a log scale (right).
• The most frequently used CPC codes (like G06F
and H04L) are on the top of the chart. The
fastest growing classifications are on the right.
In this report, we considered the fastest
growing classifications with at least 800
published applications in 2017.
@2018 IFI CLAIMS Patent Services

3. Number 8
Food
• Published patent applications
for Patent Classification A23V
“Foods, Foodstuffs or
nonalcoholic beverages” grew
at a compound annual rate of
24% from 2013 to 2017.
5 Year Growth Rate: 24%
@2018 IFI CLAIMS Patent Services

4. Example: US-20170208848-A1
Process for manufacturing an
iron fortified food product
Company
2017 published
applications
Nestec SA 83
Abbott Laboratories 24
Nutricia NV 22
DSM IP Assets BV 20
PureCircle Sdn Bhd 18
Conopco 16
Mars 16
Number 8
Food
@2018 IFI CLAIMS Patent Services

5. Number 7
Aerial Drones
• Published patent applications for
Patent Classification B64C
“Aeroplanes; Helicopters” grew
at a compound annual rate of
26% from 2013 to 2017.
• While not exclusively for
unmanned vehicles, the growth
in this category is driven by
drone technology.
5 Year Growth Rate: 26%
@2018 IFI CLAIMS Patent Services

6. Number 7
Aerial Drones
Example: US-20170262789-A1 Unmanned
aerial vehicle, and method and system for
delivering cargo with unmanned aerial vehicle
Company
2017 published
applications
Boeing 261
Sikorsky Aircraft 160
SZ DJI Technology 108
Airbus Operations GmbH 86
Goodrich 70
Airbus Operations Ltd 69
Bell Helicopter Textron 65
@2018 IFI CLAIMS Patent Services

7. Number 6
Hybrid Vehicles
• Published patent applications
for Patent Classification B60Y
“Cross-Cutting Vehicle
Technology” grew at a
compound annual rate of 26%
from 2013 to 2017.
• Hybrid vehicles and vehicle
control technology are
included.
5 Year Growth Rate: 26%
@2018 IFI CLAIMS Patent Services

8. Company 2017 published
applications
Toyota Motor 200
Ford Global Technologies 134
Hyundai Motor 117
Honda Motor 83
GM Global Technology 37
Scania CV AB 33
Kia Motors 31
Example: US-20170282906-A1
Hybrid Vehicle
Number 6
Hybrid Vehicles
@2018 IFI CLAIMS Patent Services

9. Number 5
Moulding Materials
• Published patent applications for
Patent Classification B29K
“Moulding Materials” grew at a
compound annual rate of 27%
from 2013 to 2017.
• Use of materials in advanced
manufacturing, including 3D
printing.
5 Year Growth Rate: 27%
@2018 IFI CLAIMS Patent Services

10. Number 5
Moulding Materials
Company 2017 published
applications
Boeing Co 110
3M Innovative Properties 48
SABIC Global Technologies 40
Xerox 39
Nike 36
Hyundai Motor 32
Dow Global Technologies 31
Example: US-20170100909-A1
Apparatus Configured as a Structure Comprising
a Skin Including a Bond without a Splice Plate
@2018 IFI CLAIMS Patent Services

11. Number 4
Autonomous Vehicles
• Published patent applications for
Patent Classification G05D
“Systems for controlling or
regulating non-electric variables”
grew at a compound annual rate
of 27% from 2013 to 2017.
• This includes automatic pilots for
air and land vehicles. Note the
presence of Toyota, Ford and
Chinese drone maker SZ DJI.
5 Year Growth Rate: 27%
@2018 IFI CLAIMS Patent Services

12. Number 4
Autonomous Vehicles
Example: US-20170253241-A1
Autonomous vehicle operation based
on interactive model predictive control
Company
2017 published
applications
IBM 80
Ford Global Technologies 79
SZ DJI Technology 63
Toyota Motor 60
Honda Motor 59
GM Global Technology 57
Robert Bosch 55
@2018 IFI CLAIMS Patent Services

13. Number 3
Machine Learning
• Published patent applications for
Patent Classification G06N
“Computer Systems Based on
Specific Computational Models”
grew at a compound annual rate
of 34% from 2013 to 2017.
• This includes machine learning
and artificial neural networks.
5 Year Growth Rate: 34%
@2018 IFI CLAIMS Patent Services

14. Number 3
Machine Learning
Example: US-20170323075-A1
Identifying and ranking risk
factors using trained predictive models
Company
2017 published
applications
IBM 654
Microsoft 139
Google 127
LinkedIn 70
Facebook 66
Intel 52
Fujitsu 49
@2018 IFI CLAIMS Patent Services

15. • Published patent
applications for Patent
Classification B33Y “Additive
Manufacturing” grew at a
compound annual rate of
35% from 2013 to 2017.
5 Year Growth Rate: 35%
Number 2
3-D Printing
@2018 IFI CLAIMS Patent Services

16. Number 2
3-D Printing
Example: US-20170252805-A1
Laminar vertical powder flow
for additive manufacturing
Company
2017 published
applications
General Electric 89
Xerox 78
Boeing 50
Desktop Metal 48
Hewlett-Packard
Development
48
Ricoh Co 45
Stratasys 40@2018 IFI CLAIMS Patent Services

17. Number 1
E-Cigarettes
• Published patent applications for
Patent Classification A24F
“Smokers’ Requisites” grew at a
compound annual rate of 45%
from 2013 to 2017.
• Much of this growth fell in subclass
A24F/47 – “Simulated Smoking
Devices”.
5 Year Growth Rate: 45%
@2018 IFI CLAIMS Patent Services

18. Number 1
E-Cigarettes
Example: US-20170280769-A1
Electronic vaping device and kit
Company
2017 published
applications
Altria Client Services 90
Philip Morris Products 80
Lunatech 46
Shenzhen First Union
Tech
42
Beyond Twenty 37
RAI Strategic Holdings 36
Kimree Hi-Tech 32
@2018 IFI CLAIMS Patent Services