10 Companies with Most Discoveries

4. Panasonic

2011 Patent Grants: 2,559
Profits: -$1.1 Billion
Sales: $79.4 Billion $79.4
Value: 482nd Largest In World

Well known for its televisions, video recording and viewing equipment, and batteries, Panasonic is a century old Japan based company. In order to remain competitive in the ever-evolving world of technology, the company must stay innovative. Since 2006, Panasonic has averaged approximately 2,100 U.S. patents per year, including 2,559 last year. However, things have not been going well for the company. Shares are down nearly 75 percent over the past five years, and the company lost $1.1 billion last year. Among the 2,000 largest companies in the world, this loss was the 26th worst.

3. Canon

2011 Patent Grants: 2,821
Profits: $3 Billion
Sales: $45.7 Billion
Value: 141st Largest In World

Canon is the 141th most valuable company in the world, and the fifth most valuable in Japan, according to the Forbes 2000. The company manufactures a variety of consumer electronics and other products, but it is most well-known for its optical and imaging products, which include printers, cameras and video recording devices. Over the past five years, the company has been granted 2,300 patents on average per year. Canon’s shares are down more than 50 percent over a five-year period, but the company did make $3 billion last year.