Nippon Steel to expand International Patent for Technology Advantage

Nippon Steel launches new strategy of intellectual property to expand international patent mainly in Asia when the firm expands the offshore business mainly in emerging countries. The firm plans 220-230 of offshore patent application in fiscal 2012 started April as fiscal 2011. Through merger with Sumitomo Metal Industries, the combined firm’s patent application increases to 1.5 times of Nippon Steel’s activity.

Nippon Steel shares intellectual property in business units, works, research and development unit and intellectual property unit. They decide items and timing to apply patent through the corporate strategy. The firm applies patent in emerging countries including China, South Korea, India and Brazil to secure advantage of technology. The firm provides technology to alliance and joint venture partners selectively under the strategy for global supply network.

Nippon Steel has around 8,000 patents in Japan and around 3,600 patens in offshore countries. The firm applies annual 800-1,000 patents. The offshore application doubled to 200 in fiscal 2010 from fiscal 2009 and 220-230 in fiscal 2011.

The seventy percent of the application is from research and development units with balance from manufacturing units. The firm utilizes the offshore patent by providing to alliance partners in order to follow offshore demand of high grade steel products including automotive flat steel and electrical steel.

The firm merges with Sumitomo Metals in October. Sumitomo Metals has around 3,700 patents in Japan. The publication of international patent is 560 for Nippon Steel and 350 for Sumitomo Metals in 2006-2010. They seek synergy in technology through the international intellectual property strategy.