The recently published 2025 Innovation Momentum Report identifies the 100 top technology companies globally. This is based on the strength, relevance, and momentum of their patent portfolios. The report applies a unique methodology that leverages patent data to measure the dynamics of technology development. It highlights the most fast-paced and forward-looking innovators, uncovering key trends in patent activity across industries.
To understand the strategies driving these innovation leaders, a recent webinar featured expert insights from three standout organizations: Meta, Infineon, and IBM. Each has adopted a distinct IP approach. They range from expansion into emerging technologies to strategic portfolio refinement and securing freedom to operate. That has earned them a place among the world’s top innovators. This discussion provided a compelling look into the decision-making processes behind these trailblazing patent portfolios. It offered key takeaways for businesses looking to strengthen their IP strategies. In this blog, we look at some key takeaways from each speaker and try to understand the strategies that propelled these companies into the ranks of the top global innovators.
Christine Foo, Associate General Counsel, Meta As the Associate General Counsel at Meta, Christine Foo leads enforcement and analytics for the company’s patents, licensing, and open-source teams. Her team plays a pivotal role in shaping Meta’s patent strategy—from protecting existing revenue streams to filing in cutting-edge areas such as hardware and software for AR/VR/MR and AI.
Peter Berg, Senior VP of Intellectual Property, Infineon At Infineon Technologies AG, Peter Berg has overseen the company’s IP strategy since 2017. With a background in electrical engineering and patent law, Berg focuses on ensuring freedom to operate in highly competitive semiconductor markets. His role involves balancing portfolio expansion with strategic pruning to maintain a lean but high-impact patent portfolio.
Charles Varvaro, Worldwide Leader, IP & Licensing, IBM Charles Varvaro leads IBM’s global IP licensing and patent portfolio strategy, overseeing a portfolio that spans quantum computing, AI, and hybrid cloud. With over 19 years at IBM, Varvaro has played a key role in reshaping the company’s patent portfolio, focusing on high-value innovation areas while divesting less strategic patents to streamline operations.
Meta’s innovation strategy is driven by its push into hardware and next-generation digital experiences. Figures 1 & 2 depict the Meta portfolio as visualized in the PatentSight+™ patent analytics platform. As Christine Foo explained, referencing Figure 2, a significant portion of the company’s recent patent activity has been in optics technology, particularly for augmented, virtual, and mixed reality (AR/VR/MR).
“Much of Meta’s recent patent activity focuses on technology for AI and AR/VR/MR, aligning with our expansion into hardware with products such as Meta Quest and Ray-Ban Meta AI glasses,” Foo noted.
Figure 1: Sunburst visualization in LexisNexis® PatentSight+™ showing the technology distribution in the Meta portfolio.
Figure 2: Portfolio trends of specific technologies in the Meta portfolio over the past decade.
This investment in optical systems, immersive experiences, and AI-driven imaging has propelled Meta into the Top 100 innovators, as identified in the Innovation Momentum Report. Christine explained in the webinar that Meta’s strategy involves filing new patents in these emerging fields. And also acquiring IP from third parties to broaden and fortify its portfolio.
Key takeaway: Investing in the future
Meta’s aggressive patent strategy signals its long-term commitment to immersive digital experiences. This space is expected to dominate the tech industry in the coming years.
For Infineon, a technology company at the forefront of power semiconductors, microcontrollers, and sensors, the priority is ensuring freedom to operate in increasingly competitive markets. During the webinar, Peter Berg elaborated on Infineon’s approach to maintaining a high-value, enforceable patent portfolio. This is clearly evidenced in Figure 3. It which shows the growth in the portfolios of some of the top semiconductor companies. Specifically the growth in the share of total patent families in a portfolio that belongs to the top 10% of all global patent families.
“Our primary focus is to secure patents that provide clear competitive advantages while eliminating assets that no longer align with our business objectives,” Berg explained.
Figure 3: Growth in the share of total patent families among all global semiconductor manufacturers that belong to the top 10% of our global patent database based on quality.
Unlike companies focused purely on expanding their portfolios, Infineon has also emphasized strategic pruning, ensuring that only strong, litigation-ready patents remain. According to Berg, over the past few years, Infineon has invested heavily in patents covering critical semiconductor innovations. At the same time they are retiring older, less strategic assets.
Key takeaway: A lean but impactful portfolio
Infineon’s deliberate approach—maintaining only the most enforceable, market-relevant patents—ensures that its IP remains an active business tool, not just a passive asset.
IBM has long been a leader in patents, historically topping global rankings in patent filings. However, in recent years, the technology company has recalibrated its approach. It is now focusing on high-value innovation areas like artificial intelligence (AI), hybrid cloud, and quantum computing, as seen in the portfolio development in Figure 4. Charles Varvaro described this strategic shift, noting that while IBM previously maintained an extensive patent portfolio, the focus now is on quality over quantity.
“We decided to refine our portfolio, divesting less strategic patents and focusing on key technologies—AI, semiconductor innovations, hybrid cloud, and quantum computing,” Varvaro stated.
Figure 4: Portfolio development of IBM‘s continued investment in key technologies, Machine Learning & Quantum Computing, captured by Patent Asset Index change.
BM’s data-driven approach ensures that every retained patent aligns with business goals, commercialization potential, and competitive positioning. The company has also been actively licensing its patents, generating revenue while ensuring that its technology reaches the market.
Key takeaway: Aligning IP with business strategy
IBM’s shift from sheer volume to strategic refinement demonstrates that patent strength is about impact, not just numbers. By focusing on disruptive technologies, IBM remains a key player in shaping future industries.
A key theme across the webinar was the importance of evaluating and refining patent portfolios to maximize business value. The discussion raised thought-provoking questions:
Christine Foo: “We focus on return-on-investment (ROI), looking to practical use cases. Given our roots in the social networking space, we’re protecting existing products and revenue streams. We’re also investing heavily in R&D to protect innovation where we’re on the bleeding edge and building products that don’t yet exist. We rely on feedback from the market and expected returns to track the ROI that we’re deriving from a particular area.”
Peter Berg: “For us, it’s about litigation-ready patents. We assess enforceability, market coverage, and alternative solutions available in the industry to determine whether a patent truly strengthens our position.”
Charles Varvaro: “A strong patent portfolio isn’t about having the most patents. It’s about securing intellectual property in areas that will define the next generation of technology. Our focus is on high-impact innovations in AI and quantum computing that will shape industries for years to come.”
These varied approaches illustrate why the companies ranked among the world’s top innovators. This demonstrates that there is no single “best” IP strategy. There is only the right strategy for a company’s specific goals and market position.
The Innovation Momentum Report offers a data-driven list of the world’s top 100 innovators. It highlights those who have demonstrated exceptional growth in curating highly relevant patent portfolios over a two-year period. One of the more salient aspects of the list is that it showcases companies that are at the forefront of technological advancement, regardless of the size of their patent portfolios. This year, the report includes 18 new companies in the Top 100 list that were not featured in previous editions of this annual report.
IBM, Infineon, and Meta are also among the Top 100 companies recognized in this year’s analysis, showcasing how strategic patent management drives innovation. In conversation with leaders from these companies, we find out that the path to success can be manifold and is dependent on the unique challenges and advancements that each company is facing.
Download the Innovation Momentum Report today to explore the global innovation leaders across industries. Gain valuable insights into the IP strategies shaping the future of technology.
What Questions Will the 2025 Report Answer?
With a focus on data-driven, actionable insights and future-proof strategies, the Innovation Momentum 2025 report is the must-have guide for business leaders, IP professionals, and innovators.
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