Research and innovation in big data in the mining industry operations and technologies sector has declined in the last year.
The most recent figures show that the number of big data patent applications in the industry stood at 22 in the three months ending October – down from 36 over the same period last year.
Figures for patent grants related to big data followed a similar pattern to filings – shrinking from 22 in the three months ending October last year to 18 this year.
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.
Big data 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.
The figures also provide an insight into the largest innovators in the sector.
Honeywell International Inc was the top big data innovator in the mining industry operations and technologies sector in the last quarter. The company, which has its headquarters in the US, filed 57 big data related patents in the three months ending October. That was up from 54 over the same period last year.
It was followed by the US-based Caterpillar Inc with two big data patent applications, and Sweden-based Sandvik AB (1 applications).
Honeywell International Inc has recently ramped up R&D in big data. It saw growth of 5.3% in related patent applications in the three months ending October compared to the same period last year – the highest percentage growth out of all companies tracked with more than 10 quarterly patents in the mining industry operations and technologies sector.
