Ajinomoto Tops Global Food Industry Patent Rankings in Technology Strength

Based on this intellectual property strategy, Ajinomoto Co. is focusing on seasonings and advanced bioscience-related technology as its core growth sectors.

Oct 3 2011 --- Ajinomoto Co., Inc. retained its no. 1 spot in the Food, Beverage and Tobacco segment of New Jersey-based The Patent Board's quarterly Patent Board Ranking of the world's major companies in its survey for the 13 weeks to the first week of April 2011 and the most recent survey for the 13 weeks to the first week of August. This is a third-party evaluation that Ajinomoto's technology and R&D strengths are top class worldwide according to patent-related indicators.

The Patent Board Ranking is a comprehensive assessment of companies' strengths in areas such as technology and R&D. Companies are scored in six categories, including the number of U.S. patents granted and the number of patent citations. In the previous survey, Ajinomoto Co. ranked first out of 31 companies in two of the six categories: Patents Granted in the United States and Technology Strength. In the most recent survey, in addition to retaining its no. 1 spot in those two categories, Ajinomoto Co. also ranked first in Science Strength.

Ajinomoto Co. held approximately 4,400 patents as of March 31, 2011. About 80 percent of these are foreign patents. Acquiring patents overseas is critical for developing competitive new products and strengthening and expanding business in global markets. Based on this intellectual property strategy, Ajinomoto Co. is focusing on seasonings and advanced bioscience-related technology as its core growth sectors. Furthermore, Ajinomoto Co. is promoting open innovation under its new three-year management plan for 2011-2013 aimed at creating a "Genuine Global Company" with global growth and R&D leadership as its growth drivers.