ZTE attains global No. 1 PCT patent filings spot

SHENZHEN, CHINA: ZTE Corp. announced it had attained the No. 1 global ranking for PCT patent filings in 2011.

According to global findings released by the World Intellectual Property Organization on its official website, ZTE ranked No. 1 among global companies in terms of PCT patent filings in 2011 with 2,826 total applications. The company moved up from the No. 2 spot, which it held in 2010. The statistics also show consistent growth in ZTE’s international patent filings over the past five years, which increased by more than 50 per cent year-on-year in 2011.

According to ZTE, more than 60 per cent of its PCT filings in 2011 were related to LTE/3G, cloud computing and the Internet of Things. To date, ZTE’s total international patent filings (including pending applications) is over 10,000.

“Becoming the world No. 1 in PCT applications is a great accomplishment, but not our ultimate goal,” said ZTE president, Shi Lirong. “Through innovation, we seek to enable people around the world to enjoy enriching life experiences through new technologies.”

ZTE has filed for over 40,000 domestic and international patent filings (including pending applications), and is an industry leader in the area. More than 90 per cent of the company’s patents are invention-related, including numerous basic patents covering international telecommunications technical standards and core patents covering key telecommunications technologies. The company has won several patent awards domestically, including four China Patent Gold Awards, 12 China Patent Awards of Excellence, and four Major Invention Awards in China’s information industry.

ZTE invests 10 per cent of its annual revenue in R&D and its R&D spending over the last three years has hit RMB 20 billion. Currently, ZTE employs more than 30,000 experienced researchers, and runs 15 research centers in China, France, India, Sweden and the United States. The company also built 10 innovation centers around the world in co-operation with mainstream operators in Europe and North America in 2011.