How is cybersecurity innovation progressing in the railway industry?

Research and innovation in cybersecurity in the railway equipment supply, product, and services sector has stagnated in the last quarter.

The most recent figures show that the number of related patent applications in the industry stood at 17 in the three months ending April – up from six over the same period in 2021.

Figures for patent grants related to followed a different pattern to filings – shrinking from eight in the three months ending April 2021 to seven in the same period in 2022.

The figures are compiled by GlobalData, which tracks patent filings and grants from official offices around the world. Using textual analysis, as well as official patent classifications, these patents are grouped into key thematic areas and linked to key companies across various industries.

Cybersecurity is one of the key areas tracked by GlobalData. It has been identified as being a key disruptive force facing companies in the coming years and is one of the areas that companies investing resources in now are expected to reap the rewards.

The figures also provide an insight into the largest innovators in the sector.

FedEx was the top innovator in the railway equipment supply, product and services sector in the latest quarter. The company, which has its headquarters in the United States, filed seven related patents in the three months ending April. That was up from two over the same period in 2021.

It was followed by the US-based Uber Technologies with five patent applications, South Korea-based Samsung Heavy Industries (3 applications), and the US-based United Parcel Service (1 application).