We’re always looking for REAL indications that cleantech is jumping off…beyond the vaporware. Well, in addition to last year’s jump in VC investment in cleantech, there are more numbers to back up the past few years of hype!
According to the Clean Energy Patent Growth Index, published by the Cleantech Group at Heslin Rothenberg Farley & Mesiti, the number of cleantech patents issued in 2010 is more than double the 815 that were issued in 2008! The industry reached a high of 1900 for 2010.
That means companies have the funds needed for innovation and development… That means companies AND funders are confident not only in the technology, but in market conditions.
Funds and confidence are crucial. As you will recall, despite the high hopes for cleantech, we’ve spent a few years in a crazy cycle of demand for products and services without enough funding for companies to generate the products. I personally have heard of several multi-million dollar deals that were at risk because the vendor couldn’t afford to secure materials to fulfill the job!
So, who is securing all of these patents? Where is the growth happening? Where might the next slew of ‘green jobs’ come from?
The largest recipients of clean tech patents in 2010 were automobile manufacturers General Motors and Toyota (respectively), and Samsung, which was a leader in fuel cell patents. General Electric was granted the most wind power patents, and Applied Materials was dominant in its solar patents.
Applicants in Japan and the United States were granted substantially more patents than any other geographic region; the United States accounted 49 percent, followed by Japan at 27 percent. Within the United States, Michigan, California, and New York led the States. – SmartPlanet
Why isn’t China among the top patent recipients? China’s strength is in their resources — people and materials. They haven’t quite built up their strength around innovation, yet, but you better bet they are working on it right now!
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