Innovative ideas are an important factor in economic success. There are many innovative companies – but which are the most innovative of them all? We introduce you to the 20 most innovative companies in the world.
“Think different” or “Future is an attitude” – many companies make clear in their advertising slogan alone how much weight they place on innovation.
But which companies are really setting new standards worldwide? What makes these companies so special? Which strategies do they follow and where does their success come from?
What does innovation actually mean for a company?
Innovation can be the introduction of a new product, a new service or a new business idea. Innovation can also be the improvement of an existing product or service. Innovation describes the continuous search for ways to make your own offering better, cheaper or more efficient.
When is a company particularly innovative?
Especially innovative companies stand out through continuous improvement. And through constantly looking for new ways to delight their customers.
Innovative companies also place great value on creativity, using it to find new solutions to problems. They think "out of the box", independently of established business models.
The 10 most important KPIs in trend and innovation management
The TRENDONE whitepaper "Innovation Is Measurable" reveals the 10 most important KPIs in trend and innovation management.
Innovation KPIs help you assess your success, serve as a strong communication tool, and underline the importance of trends and innovation within your company.
These companies are particularly innovative – the Top 20 ranking:
For 16 years, the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) has published an annual report on the 50 most innovative companies in the world.
In the most recent edition (as of 2022), BCG placed particular emphasis on climate and sustainability. Here are the Top 20 most innovative companies of 2022:
Rank 20: Siemens
Siemens is a multinational technology group headquartered in Munich. The company was founded in 1847 by Werner von Siemens, making it one of the oldest industrial groups still in existence worldwide. Today Siemens employs around 380,000 people and operates in more than 180 countries. Siemens is best known for its products in energy technology, healthcare and industrial automation.
The company’s core competency, however, lies in the development of IT solutions that enable new business models and productivity gains in companies across all sectors.
Compared with the previous year, Siemens has slipped from rank 11 to rank 20.
Rank 19: Oracle
Oracle is a global leader in cloud-based database solutions and business intelligence software. The company was founded in 1977 in Santa Clara, California, and is headquartered in Burlington, USA. Today Oracle employs more than 150,000 people worldwide. Oracle is one of the leading companies in cloud computing, big data analytics and mobile solutions.
Oracle has slipped four positions in this year’s ranking.
Rank 18: Pfizer
Pfizer is a globally active pharmaceutical company based in the USA. Founded in New York in 1849, its headquarters today are in Sandwich, in the state of Illinois. Pfizer is the world’s largest manufacturer of pharmaceuticals and one of the largest research companies. The company employs more than 90,000 people worldwide.
In the previous year, Pfizer held rank 10 in the ranking.
Rank 17: Target
Target is an American retail group headquartered in Minneapolis. Founded in 1962, Target is today one of the largest retailers in the United States. Through close collaboration with leading manufacturers, Target consistently keeps pace with the latest trends and innovations. Target operates over 1,800 stores in the United States and Canada and employs more than 360,000 people.
Previous year’s position: rank 18.
Rank 16: LG Electronics
LG Electronics is a multinational corporation that specializes in the manufacture of electronics products and software. Founded in 1958, the company is headquartered in Seoul, South Korea. LG Electronics is the world’s leading manufacturer of flat-panel displays and accounts for around 60 percent of revenue in the Korean electronics sector. The company has subsidiaries in more than 80 countries and is active in over 100 product segments.
Previous year’s position: rank 12.
Rank 15: Nvidia
Nvidia is a US company that has existed since 1993. It manufactures graphics cards for computers and is the world leader in this field. Nvidia’s products are also built into many other devices, such as cars or game consoles. Nvidia is one of the most important players in the market for high-end graphics cards and is known for the high quality of its products.
Nvidia has also developed a wide range of artificial intelligence solutions, including deep learning, autonomous driving and robotics. These technologies help companies automate and optimize their business processes. In addition, Nvidia also offers solutions for the cloud computing industry. Nvidia operates in more than 150 countries and has over 14,000 employees worldwide.
Nvidia has made it into the Top 20 most innovative companies in the world for the first time.
Rank 14: Dell
Dell is an American technology company that offers computers, servers, networking, storage solutions, mobile devices and IT services. The company was founded in 1984 by Michael Dell and is headquartered in Round Rock, Texas.
Dell is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of PCs and servers and one of the leading providers of IT solutions. Its broad portfolio of products and services enables customers to optimize and transform their IT environments. Dell offers solutions for private and public clouds, big data, security, mobility and more.
The company has more than 145,000 employees worldwide and operates in more than 40 countries.
Dell has moved up two positions compared with the previous year.
Rank 13: Walmart
Walmart is an American retail and wholesale company headquartered in Bentonville, Arkansas. Founded in 1962 by Sam Walton, it is today the largest retail chain in the world. Walmart operates more than 11,000 stores in 27 countries and employs over 2.2 million people.
Walmart is continuously working on new technologies such as AI-powered robotic delivery, virtual reality in-store experiences, and autonomous vehicles for delivering goods directly to customers’ doorsteps.
In recent years, Walmart has stepped up its efforts to shed its image as a cheap mass retailer and present itself as an environmentally friendly and socially responsible company. Walmart has announced, for example, that it will source 100 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2025. It has also launched a number of initiatives to make its supply chain more sustainable.
Walmart has improved its ranking by 10 positions compared with the previous year.
Rank 12: Nike
Nike is an international company that designs and sells sports goods. Founded in 1972 in the USA, the company is headquartered in Beaverton, Oregon. Nike employs more than 44,000 people worldwide. It operates in 166 countries and has stores in more than 4,500 cities globally.
Nike is also a brand that places great value on sustainability. It invests in the research and development of nature-based products and new technologies to reduce energy consumption in its factories. It is also committed to environmental education and supports initiatives that teach schoolchildren how to live more sustainably.
Nike has improved its ranking by 12 positions year on year.
Rank 11: Meta
Meta (formerly Facebook) is a multinational company focused on the development and operation of social media platforms. Founded in 2004, the company is headquartered in Menlo Park, California. Meta today has over 1.6 billion active users worldwide, making it the most used social media platform in the world.
Meta has improved its ranking by two positions.
Rank 10: IBM
IBM is a global leader in information technology (IT). The company was founded in 1911 in the USA and is headquartered today in Armonk, New York. IBM operates in more than 170 countries and employs more than 400,000 people worldwide.
IBM offers a broad range of services, including consulting, systems integration, advisory services and software development. The company also runs its own production facilities for hardware and software. IBM’s core competency, however, lies in providing innovative solutions for healthcare, finance and logistics.
IBM has lost three places in the ranking compared with the previous year.
Rank 9: Sony
Sony is a Japanese company specialized in the manufacture of electronics and video products. Founded in 1946, the company is headquartered in Tokyo. Sony is today one of the world’s leading companies and produces televisions, cameras, mobile phones, computer games and video games, among other things. The brand is known for its high-quality products and innovative technologies and designs.
Sony’s position in the ranking has remained unchanged.
Rank 8: Huawei
Huawei is a Chinese corporation focused on developing and manufacturing telecommunications equipment and solutions. Founded in 1987, the company is headquartered in Beijing.
Today Huawei is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of smartphones, tablets and wearables. It is now a global leader in 5G, cloud computing, artificial intelligence (AI) and other key technologies.
Huawei employs more than 180,000 people worldwide and operates in more than 170 countries.
Huawei also held rank 8 in the ranking last year.
Rank 7: Moderna
Moderna is a US company founded in 2010. Headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it currently employs more than 1,000 people. Moderna is a pioneer in mRNA therapeutics and develops pharmaceuticals intended to strengthen the body’s own defenses against disease.
Moderna has moved up 35 places compared with the previous year.
Rank 6: Samsung
The Samsung Group is a South Korean conglomerate headquartered in Seoul, best known for its electronics products. The company was founded in 1938 and started out as a manufacturer of rice and wheat mills. In the 1960s, Samsung began building televisions and later washing machines and refrigerators. Today, Samsung is one of the world’s largest producers of smartphones, tablets and other electronic devices.
Samsung held on to rank 6 in the ranking.
Rank 5: Tesla
Tesla Motors is an American automotive company founded in 2003 by inventor and entrepreneur Elon Musk. Tesla Motors developed the world’s first fully electric vehicle.
Tesla Motors has also continued to optimize energy efficiency and invest in new energy storage and generation technologies. With these innovations, Tesla Motors has revolutionized the automotive industry and established itself as a leading provider of electric vehicles.
Tesla defended its 5th place from last year.
Rank 4: Alphabet/Google
Alphabet is the new company that emerged from Google. It is led by Larry Page and headquartered in Mountain View, California.
Alphabet is a digital conglomerate specialized in various business divisions. These include internet services such as Google Search and YouTube, as well as products such as Android phones and Google Glass.
Alphabet operates in many countries worldwide and employs over 70,000 people.
Today Alphabet is one of the most highly valued companies in the world. In 2020, Fortune Magazine named it the sixth most important company in the world, and it has continued to climb steadily since then.
Alphabet has lost two places year on year.
Rank 3: Amazon
Amazon is an American company from Seattle, founded in 1994 by Jeff Bezos. Amazon is a global leader in online services and products. Amazon.com is the largest e-commerce site in the world. Amazon operates a global network of distribution centers and logistics partners that support the delivery of its services and products. The company has more than 175 million active customer accounts worldwide.
Amazon defended rank 3 from the previous year.
Rank 2: Microsoft
Microsoft is the world’s largest software group. It was founded in 1975 by Bill Gates and Paul Allen and is headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA. Microsoft makes products such as Windows, Office, Azure, Xbox and many more. The company employs more than 120,000 people worldwide.
Microsoft has improved its ranking by two places compared with the previous year.
Rank 1: Apple
Apple is a global leader in information technology, media and communications. The company was founded in 1976 by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak in Cupertino, California.
Apple produces, among other things, the well-known iPhones, iPads and Macs. Apple products are highly popular worldwide, particularly for their craftsmanship and modern design.
The company is also known for its innovative software, including the iOS operating system for iPhones and iPads, and macOS for Macs.
Apple defended rank 1 from the previous year.
Whitepaper: Innovation Is Measurable
The TRENDONE whitepaper "Innovation Is Measurable" reveals the 10 most important KPIs in trend and innovation management.
Innovation KPIs help you assess your success, serve as a strong communication tool, and underline the importance of trends and innovation within your company.
