Boosts R&D Investment to Overcome Uncertainties

Top 10 patent applicants in 2021

Huawei is ramping up strategic investments in R&D to overcome the uncertain and difficult business environment and continue its globalization strategy.

Huawei invested 142.7 billion yuan (about 27.27 trillion won) in R&D in 2021, which amounted to 22.4 percent of the 636.9 billion yuan (about 122.13 trillion won) in sales, according to the Huawei 2021 Annual Report. This is by far the largest R&D investment by Huawei over the past 10 years and the second-largest R&D investment in the world.

Huawei's increased investment in R&D has expanded its patent portfolio. As one of the companies with the largest patent portfolio in the world, Huawei had more than 110,000 patents on more than 45,000 product lines as of the end of 2021.

In the 2021 Patent Index Report recently published by the European Patent Office (EPO), Huawei applied for a total of 3,544 patents and was named the number one patent filing company in Europe in 2021. The number of new European patent applications filed by Huawei is on the rise every year. It jumped by more than 300 in 2021 from 3,113 in 2020. In addition to Europe, Huawei is also solidifying its position as a top patent filing company in China (1st) and the United States (5th).

In addition, Huawei was named as one of the companies with the most valid 5G patents in the world and enjoyed a patent share of 15.93 percent in a report by IPlytics. Capital on Tap World's Most Innovative Tech Company Survey in 2020 ranked the Chinese tech giant first in the standings for two years in a row. Like these, Huawei has been recognized for its technological prowess and innovation.

In addition, Huawei is actively participating in fostering and nurturing ICT talent. Huawei also said it will invest US$150 million in developing global digital talent over the next five years and will give benefit to more than 3 million people of talent.

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