The 50 Most Innovative Companies

If someone asks you to mention some of the biggest global technology companies, I believe most people can come up with some names easily; for instance Samsung, Hitashi, Intel, Microsoft, GE, HP, and so on. Technology Review (April 2011) have created a new agenda for the most innovative companies worldwide. Why “innovative”?

According to Amitabh Shukla, innovation may be defined as exploiting new ideas leading to the creation of a new product, process, or service. Innovation has a vital role in today and future business world especially in technology business where things change quickly. Innovation help a company discover consumers’ unmet needs and create a new market. 

Brian Bergstein, Technology Review (April 2011) have listed 50 most innovative companies or companies that others are trying to follow or imitate. I have some examples here:

«information from this part is from TR (April 2011)»

Goldwind

Why: Increasing the time that turbines are operational will lower the cost of wind power. Key Innovation Co-developed a direct-drive wind turbine that eliminates the need for a gearbox. Having fewer moving parts reduces the chance of costly mechanical failure. 

Toyota

Why: Hybrid cars can significantly reduce gasoline consumption by using an electric motor alongside a gasoline

HTC

Why: Smart phones that run Android have become an alternative to Apple’s mobile devices.  Key innovation: Designed well-crafted devices in partnership with Google and wireless carriers. 

Amazon.com

Why: E-books are finally becoming a large, mainstream market. Key innovation: Even as it seeded the e-book market with the Kindle, Amazon has made it easy for people to read e-books on others devices, such as the iPad.

Google

Why: It still sets the agenda in Web search, even as it pushes the development of Android for mobile devices. Key innovation: Its software development process remains relatively fast even as the company has gotten very big.

Complete Genomics

Why: Many doctors and researchers lack the resources to sequence genomes and analyze them themselves. Key innovation: Sells sequencing as a service, analyzing DNA samples that customers send in.  

Roche

Why: Drugs that target genetic mutations unique to cancer cells may be more effective than ones that act more broadly. Key innovation: A new drug blocks the effects of a mutation thought to be present in as many as 8 percent of all cancers. 

Calxeda

Why: Its technology can reduce the cost of computing in data centers. Key innovation: Runs servers with cell-phone chip rather than processors built on industry-standard designs, which are more power-hungry. 

Square

Why: Expanding the use of mobile payments will help small businesses. Key innovation: Built technology that lets anyone accept credit cards using smart phone. 

Facebook

Why: Social networking on the Web is becoming a powerful advertising medium and a platform for startups that offer add-on services.  Key innovation: Adapts quickly to shape its site into a medium that advertisers consistently want to use. 

Claros Diagnostics

Why: Simple, fast diagnostic test can help physicians track disease-related markers. Key innovation: Its microfluidic device for doctors’ offices can quickly detect elevated protein levels associated with prostate cancer.