Denso Corp (Kariya, Japan) moves up to the #1 position in the current Patent Scorecard while Toyota Motor Company (Toyota-Cho, Japan) jumps two positions to #2.  Neither is surprising since Denso is Toyota’s largest auto parts supplier. Denso provides components such as battery-controlled computers and electric-current sensors that are used for Toyota’s Prius hybrid car, which is now in its 3^rd Generation with the 2010 model. Denso also has the largest patent count in the industry, with an almost 3% increase in patents granted for the period and a 7% increase in Industry Impact™ (though still below the industry average).  It also has the fastest Innovation Cycle Time™ within the top 10, meaning its patents are building off of newer innovations. Toyota saw its patent count increase almost 6%, enough to fuel its rise above #3 Honda Motor Co. Ltd (Tokyo, Japan). Both Denso and Toyota saw an identical 15% increase in Science Strength™ during the period, indicating that both companies are moving to build off of scientific research in their recent patenting activities.

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