Research and innovation in robotics in the food manufacturing sector has declined in the last year, GlobalData suggests.
The most recent figures from the UK-based data and analytics group show that the number of robotics-related patent applications in the industry stood at 35 in the three months ending February – down from 44 over the same period in 2021.
The figures on patents granted followed a similar pattern to filings, dipping from 14 in the three months ending February 2021 to 13 in the same period in 2022.
GlobalData, Just Food’s parent company, tracks patent filings and approvals from offices around the world. Using textual analysis, as well as official patent classifications, these patents are grouped into thematic areas and linked to key companies across various industries.
Robotics is seen by GlobalData as a disruptive force facing companies in the coming years and is one of the areas companies investing resources in now are expected to reap rewards from.
Noodle maker Uni-President China Holdings filed 25 robotics-related patents in the three months ending February. That was down from 38 over the same period in 2021. It was followed by the Taiwan based Uni-President Enterprises Corp with six robotics patent applications.
Further analysis: