[Reported by Wu Kang-Wei in Taipei]
Clarivate yesterday (April 16) announced the recipients of the 2025 Top 100 Global Innovators award, honoring 13 organizations from Taiwan. Among them, the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) stood out by receiving this prestigious recognition for the ninth time, making it the most awarded institution in Taiwan and the leading R&D organization in the Asia-Pacific region in terms of accolades.
Other awardees include TSMC (2330), Hon Hai (Foxconn), MediaTek, Quanta, AUO, Delta Electronics, Wistron, Realtek, Nanya Technology, Winbond, ASUS, and Coretronic.
Taiwan ranked third globally and second in Asia in terms of the number of awardees this year, trailing only behind Japan and the United States. It has also been recognized for four consecutive years as one of the most innovation-driven regions worldwide.
With support from the Ministry of Economic Affairs, ITRI has continued to deepen its cross-disciplinary R&D strengths. Its outstanding performance in patent indicators, such as technological uniqueness, has set it apart from over 1.1 million institutions worldwide. With a selection rate of only 0.01%, ITRI has made it onto the list for the ninth time over eight consecutive years, holding the record for the most wins among R&D institutes in the Asia-Pacific.
ITRI President Liu Wen-Hsiung stated that in addition to its proactive innovation and improved intellectual property quality, ITRI has strived to bridge the gap between the technology and capital markets. Patents, he noted, should not only serve as defensive tools but also be used strategically for market entry, thereby facilitating both application and financing.
In recent years, ITRI has been building an “IP Bank” in collaboration with financial institutions, enabling entrepreneurs to monetize intangible assets and even secure bank financing, which in turn supports future innovation and development.
Looking ahead, Liu emphasized that ITRI will continue to focus on smart living, healthy aging, sustainable environments, and resilient societies. It will also promote the integration of AI, cybersecurity, semiconductor chips, communications, and intelligent sensing technologies to address industrial challenges and enhance Taiwan’s competitiveness through technological innovation.
He concluded with a promise to the business representatives present: “Let’s meet again on next year’s stage of innovation.”
Clarivate highlighted the impressive performance of Taiwanese companies in the global innovation arena. The number of award-winning organizations from Taiwan has increased from nine in 2022 to 13 in 2025, underscoring the nation’s robust strength in electronics and semiconductors.
However, as small and medium-sized enterprises continue to grow, it becomes increasingly difficult for companies to remain in the global top 100. Moreover, the convergence of specialized fields such as AI and semiconductors has made patent applications more complex. Nonetheless, this trend is also expected to accelerate the development of emerging technologies worldwide.
[2025-04-17 / Economic Daily News / Page A12]
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