Research and innovation in cloud in the ship equipment supply, product and services sector has declined in the last year.

The most recent figures show that the number of related patent applications in the industry stood at 39 in the three months ending May – down from 54 over the same period in 2021.

Figures for patent grants related to followed a similar pattern to filings – shrinking from 56 in the three months ending May 2021 to 38 in the same period in 2022.

The figures are compiled by GlobalData, who track patent filings and grants from official offices around the world. Using textual analysis, as well as official patent classifications, these patents are grouped into key thematic areas, and linked to key companies across various industries.

is one of the key areas tracked by GlobalData. It has been identified as being a key disruptive force facing companies in the coming years, and is one of the areas that companies investing resources in now are expected to reap rewards from.

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The figures also provide an insight into the largest innovators in the sector.

Uber Technologies Inc was the top innovator in the ship equipment supply, product and services sector in the latest quarter. The company, which has its headquarters in the United States, filed 10 related patents in the three months ending May. That was down from 16 over the same period in 2021.

It was followed by the United States based FedEx Corp with 10 patent applications, South Korea based Samsung Heavy Industries Co Ltd (7 applications), and the United States based United Parcel Service Inc (6 applications).

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