In 2019, IBM garnered more U.S. patents in 2019 than any other company in any previous year (9,262, to be exact). The true significance, well beyond the numerical milestone, is what this figure says about the values and culture of the company and its people.
Patents are an important marker for gauging the creativity and innovation of scientists, engineers, designers and makers of all types. They’re not the only measure, of course. We innovate in multiple ways—when we push the frontiers of science and technology and publish the results, when we contribute to open-source projects, when we create new products and services, and when we pioneer new business models.
