Global Rise to 36th Place Highlights Sustained Innovation MomentumABB has secured the second position among Swiss companies in the European Patent Office’s (EPO) 2024 Patent Index, climbing from fourth place in 2023. With 540 patent applications filed last year, ABB was the only top-five Swiss company to record a year-on-year increase (+10.7%) and jumped nine spots globally to rank 36th in the EPO’s annual global top 50 list, which tracks the highest patent activity worldwide.
Innovation as a Strategic Growth Driver
“At ABB, research and development is driven by our 19 divisions, with a focus on developing and commercializing technologies that fuel future growth,” said Morten Wierod, ABB’s Chief Executive Officer. “Our ascent in the EPO rankings reflects our unwavering commitment to sustained innovation—creating world-class technologies that transform industries, elevating performance and sustainability to new heights.”
The achievement underscores the expertise of ABB’s global innovation network, which includes 7,800 R&D professionals across approximately 30 countries on six continents. Over half of these teams are dedicated to digital and software development, with more than 250 active projects focused on artificial intelligence (AI) to advance ABB’s advanced software and digital solutions portfolio.
Steady Investment Fuels Innovation Pipeline
Building on 140 years of engineering heritage, ABB has significantly ramped up investment in R&D and technology ventures to accelerate cutting-edge innovation. Key milestones include:
- A 40% increase in R&D and related spending since 2020, with a 12% year-on-year rise in 2024 alone.
- $1.469 billion invested in R&D activities in 2024, representing approximately 4.5% of consolidated revenues—aligning with the company’s ambition to grow this ratio to 4.5% to 5% in the coming years.
- Strategic venture capital activity: 17 investments in 2024 (9 new ventures and 8 follow-on investments) totaling approximately $50 million across its four business areas.
A Legacy of Innovation, A Future of Impact
ABB’s strong patent performance and growing R&D investment reinforce its role as a leader in developing technologies that address global challenges, from energy transition to industrial automation. By prioritizing innovation, ABB continues to deliver solutions that drive efficiency, sustainability, and digital transformation across industries worldwide.
For more insights into how ABB creates value through world-class technology, explore the ABB Annual Reporting Suite — ABB Group.
