Thales has been recognized for the fourth time as one of the world's top 100 innovators, figuring among the companies in the 2016 Top 100 Global Innovators report published by Clarivate Analytics early this year.
Thales’ presence in the world’s top 100 innovators is the result of a strong and ambitious innovation policy anchored in the Group’s history. The Group has invested consistently in research and development over the years with a 2.5 billion euros activity in 2015 (self-funded R&D stood at €700m) and currently holds the rights to more than 16,500 patents.
Innovation is central to the Thales strategy of growth, competitiveness and people development. Thales’ open innovation focuses on scientific and technical R&D (with academic laboratories), collaboration with its ecosystem (SMEs and start-ups) and market-centered innovation (co-innovation with clients).
Digital technologies are deeply ingrained in the Thales culture and continue to drive the Group's business growth. As new technologies gain traction, they fuel Thales's potential for customer-focused innovation at scale. Thales has invested substantial resources in its innovation policy both organically (five research centers in Canada, England, France, Netherlands, and Singapore) and externally with its whole ecosystem.
Around the world, Thales meets with his clients and all its partners to co-innovated, through customer-centric innovation hubs and design centers in China, England, France, Germany, Singapore and United-States.
“The 2016 rankings come as a further endorsement of the Thales’ capacity to innovate both organically and through partnerships across the entire high-tech ecosystem. We are proud that the creativity and engagement of Thales passionate staff have once again gained global recognition,” commented Marko Erman, Chief Technical Officer, Thales.
Thales is a global technology leader for the Aerospace, Transport, Defense and Security markets. With 62,000 employees in 56 countries, Thales reported sales of €14 billion in 2015.
With over 22,000 engineers and researchers, Thales has a unique capability to design and deploy equipment, systems and services to meet the most complex security requirements. Its unique international footprint allows it to work closely with its customers all over the world.
