Intellectual Property

The MHI Group has announced "MISSION NET ZERO," its carbon neutrality pledge for 2040.
The realization of a carbon-neutral society is an issue with a global scale. In such a situation, playing a leading role in climate change countermeasures is the MHI Groups’ mission as a leader boasting innumerable achievements in various industrial fields including the energy supply business, such as the thermal power generation business, in which we have over a century of development and production history, and the nuclear power generation business. Furthermore, we position the resolution of energy issues aimed at a decarbonized society as one of the key issues (materiality issues) toward which we must endeavor.

We are currently engaged in research and development into energy transition-related technologies at Takasago Hydrogen Park and Nagasaki Carbon Neutral Park. Such activities include: empirical research aimed at the realization of a hydrogen society spanning from hydrogen production to generation; decarbonization through fuel transitions from fossil fuels (ammonia combustion technologies, biomass synthesis fuel production technologies, etc.); and the like.

In response to such business strategies and technical development strategies, in recent years, the MHI Group has been augmenting its IP investment in energy transition-related technologies.

Changes in Number of IPs for Energy Transition-Related Technologies Owned
by MHI Group

Particularly in the CCS/CCUS field, which includes Carbon dioxide Capture and Storage, etc., the MHI Group is performing proactive technical development and making a great number of patent applications, thereby working toward the realization of a CO₂ ecosystem that covers the entire CO₂ value chain, from capture to use.

Top 20 applicants by number of IPFs in CCS/CCUS Field

• International Patent Family (IPF) means a patent family that includes applications to multiple countries/regions or a patent family that includes applications to the European Patent Office (EPO) or PCT.
  Filing Years(Priority Year): 2010 to 2021

CCS/CCUS Field Patent Score Map

• Created using "Biz Cruncher," a tool from Patent Result Co., Ltd., for JP patent applications concerning the CCS/CCUS field (CO₂ Capture and Storage, etc. using absorption liquid; the number of IPs owned being 10 or more).
  (The size of each circle indicates the number of patents owned, and higher scores indicate inventions having higher attention.)

Changes in Patent Owner Scores in CCS/CCUS Field

In addition to these, aimed at the realization of "MISSION NET ZERO," the MHI Group will strengthen its IP investment in climate change countermeasure-related technologies such as nuclear power generation (innovative light-water reactors) and other fossil fuel-free energy generation, and green steel (hydrogen reduction steelmaking), thereby contributing to resolving the global social issues of the stable supply of clean energy and decarbonization.

The creation of a society where people can live safely and securely is vital for the realization of fruitful lives.
Since its establishment, the MHI Group has built a track record of contributing to social development through the creation of major infrastructure, undertaking the challenge of venturing into unknown worlds such as space and the deep sea, and the like, and has vast knowledge. By bringing these together and applying them, we are promoting the creation of systems that are superior in flexibility, toughness, and economizing of manpower.

For instance, the MHI Group pursue intelligence and autonomous operation in the machine systems. Furthermore, MHI will pursue “smart connections” by coordinating the machine systems vital to society and adding intelligence to social systems, in a quest to achieve secure social infrastructures.

Patent Portfolio for Technologies Related to Intelligent Machines

Toward the realization of such a social infrastructure (achieving "smart connections"), in recent years we have been putting efforts toward strengthening our patent portfolio by, e.g., investing in IPs (patent applications, etc.) concerning technologies related to the intelligent machines, in particular promoting the acquisition of IPs for automated and autonomous technologies.

MHI Group's Patent Portfolio for Technologies Related to Intelligent Machines

• A bird's eye view of the IPs owned by the MHI Group (JP) based on technical terms contained in patent publications, created using "VALUENEX Radar," a tool from VALUENEX Japan Inc. (figure on left). Technical fields with concentrated applications are indicated with warm colors.
• IP investment involving technologies related to the intelligent machines such as automated and autonomous technologies, abnormality-predicting technologies, etc. is being strengthened (figure on right: warm-colored regions are increases).

Furthermore, the score for the patent group owned by the MHI Group related to the intelligent machines is in an increasing trend, and the owned patent group is gaining attention year by year. Aiming for the realization of a safe, secure, comfortable society, the MHI Group will continue to promote the patent group related to the intelligent machines, which smartly connects various social systems in society.

Changes in Patent Score Map Concerning Technologies Related to Intelligent Machines

• Created using "Biz Cruncher," a tool from patent Result Co., Ltd., for the MHI Group's JP patent applications concerning technologies related to the intelligent machines.

In order to gain a broader understanding of the MHI Group's products and solution services which respond to social issues such as carbon neutrality and to prevent imitation products, we are promoting initiatives to enhance the value of our technical brands (strengthened trademark registration, etc.).

Main Solution Brands Supporting MHI Group's Digital Transformation Platform

Under the direction of MHI's CTO, the MHI Group leverages its strength as a conglomerate to operate organically linked IP activities through the promotion of IP management by IP Directors in each business unit (domestic and international).
Based on the Group's common IP policy, each business unit establishes an IP strategy rooted in social value, and contribute to the realization of MISSION NET ZERO and a safe, secure, comfortable society by promoting the acquisition of IPs for highly superior original technologies and the development of an IP portfolio.

Education/Personnel Training

With regard to the training and utilization of the MHI Group's IP members, the Group strategically conducts domestic and overseas IP training and internal rotations between business units and R&D units, working toward improving the capabilities of individuals and the intellectual property unit as a whole and acquiring the necessary specialized capabilities.

Patents Owned by MHI Group

In order to support our global businesses, we are strengthening our overseas patent applications, centered on major countries such as the United States, European countries, and China.

Number of Patents Held by MHI Group

• Numerical values are the numbers at the end of each year for MHI and its major consolidated subsidiaries.
  Numerical values for Europe are the number of patents granted by EPO.

Clarivate Top 100 Global Innovators

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries was selected in "Clarivate Top 100 Global Innovators 2024," the 13th holding of this award, by Clarivate, a global provider of transformative intelligence. "Clarivate Top 100 Global Innovators" is a ranking in which the companies and research institutions who stand atop the world's innovation ecosystem are chosen once each year. Our reception of this award marks the 12th straight year we have received it, the first time being in 2012.
This award is given according to an original IP/patent trend analysis carried out by Clarivate based on data regarding patents owned by each company, and is supported by global innovators as an indicator that allows for the accurate grasping of the ecosystem and its impact.

• https://clarivate.com/ja/top-100-innovators/

IAM's Asia IP Elite

In July 2023, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries was selected for the first time in "IAM's 2023 Asia IP Elite," chosen by IAM (Intellectual Asset Management), an international IP media outlet. We were favorably evaluated as a global engineering and manufacturing company for strategically increasing patent applications in overseas countries, such as the United States, European countries, and China, which led to our receiving the award.

• https://www.iam-media.com/article/iams-2023-asia-ip-elite-revealed

National Commendation for Invention
(Holding: Japan Institute of Invention and Innovation)

The National Commendation for Invention is a historical invention award system started in 1919 with the purpose of contributing to the improvement of scientific technologies and the development of industry. In 1971, the MHI Group received the Imperial Invention Prize, the highest award at this Commendation, thus receiving an Imperial Grant. Recently, the MHI Group has received the following awards.

Local Commendation for Invention
(Holding: Japan Institute of Invention and Innovation)

The Local Commendation for Invention, started in 1921, honors engineers, researchers/developers, etc. who have produced superior inventions, ideas, or designs that are being implemented. The Local Commendation for Invention involves dividing Japan into eight regions (Hokkaido, Tohoku, Kanto, Chubu, Kinki, Chugoku, Shikoku, and Kyushu), and is held from the viewpoint of the degree to which each invention contributes to local industry.
The MHI Group's main recent award reception history is as follows.

Good Design Award
(Holding: Japan Institute of Design Promotion)

This Award is a comprehensive design evaluation/commendation system established in 1957. It involves not only selecting beautiful designs, but comprehensively judging whether those designs improve the quality of everyday life and industry, and honors "Good Design," which adds richness to society as a whole.
The MHI Group's recent award reception history is as follows.

FY	Award Name	Winning Company	Title of Invention	Winning Design
2022	Good Design Best 100	Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.	Autonomous, explosion-proof, plant inspection robot "EX ROVR Series 'ASCENT'" See here for details(external site)
2021	Good Design Best 100	Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.	AM-Zone® "AM-Zone® Additive Manufacturing Open Factory" See here for details(external site)
	Good Design Best 100	Hiroshima Rapid Transit Co., Ltd. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Engineering, Ltd.	New carriages for AGT system "Astram Line 7000-Series" See here for details(external site)
2020	Good Design Best 100	Mitsubishi Logisnext Co., Ltd.	Electric counterbalanced forklifts "ALESIS Series (0.9t to 3.5t)" See here for details(external site)