The aerospace and defense industry continues to be a hotbed of patent innovation. Activity is driven by environmental sustainability, electrification, and operational efficiency, and the growing importance of technologies such as hydrogen and electric aircraft and advanced materials. In the last three years alone, there have been over 237,000 patents filed and granted in the aerospace and defense industry, according to GlobalData’s report on Environmental sustainability in defense: electric-hydrogen hybrid. Buy the report here.
Smarter leaders trust GlobalData
According to GlobalData’s Technology Foresights, which uses over 206,000 patents to analyze innovation intensity for the aerospace and defense industry, there are 110 innovation areas that will shape the future of the industry.
Electric-hydrogen hybrid systems is a key innovation area in environmental sustainability
An electric-hydrogen hybrid system refers to a combination of an electric system and a hydrogen-based system in a vehicle or aircraft. In this system, electricity is generated from a fuel cell powered by hydrogen, which is then used to power an electric motor. The hydrogen can be stored in tanks and easily refueled, providing a longer range compared to purely electric vehicles. The hybrid system offers a cleaner and more sustainable alternative to conventional combustion engines, reducing emissions and dependence on fossil fuels.
See Also:
GlobalData’s analysis also uncovers the companies at the forefront of each innovation area and assesses the potential reach and impact of their patenting activity across different applications and geographies. According to GlobalData, there are 90+ companies, spanning technology vendors, established aerospace and defense companies, and up-and-coming start-ups engaged in the development and application of electric-hydrogen hybrid systems.
Key players in electric-hydrogen hybrid systems – a disruptive innovation in the aerospace and defense industry
‘Application diversity’ measures the number of applications identified for each patent. It broadly splits companies into either ‘niche’ or ‘diversified’ innovators.
‘Geographic reach’ refers to the number of countries each patent is registered in. It reflects the breadth of geographic application intended, ranging from ‘global’ to ‘local’.
Patent volumes related to electric-hydrogen hybrid systems
| Company | Total patents (2010 - 2022) | Premium intelligence on the world's largest companies |
| Liebherr-International | 26 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Rolls-Royce | 16 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Diehl Stiftung | 27 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Thales | 12 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Melrose Industries | 15 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin | 13 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Toyota Motor | 39 | Unlock Company Profile |
| IHI | 17 | Unlock Company Profile |
| NACCO Materials Handling Group | 8 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft | 7 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Lynntech | 6 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Siemens | 32 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Hyundai Motor | 37 | Unlock Company Profile |
| CEA | 50 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Naval Group | 36 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Snecma | 8 | Unlock Company Profile |
| General Electric | 43 | Unlock Company Profile |
| U.S. Department of Defence | 6 | Unlock Company Profile |
| ThyssenKrupp | 47 | Unlock Company Profile |
| BAE Systems | 21 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Porsche Automobil | 10 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Raytheon Technologies | 99 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Ballard Power Systems | 8 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Doosan | 27 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Aviva | 6 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Textron | 18 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Safran | 124 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Boeing | 104 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Korea Development Bank | 68 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Airbus | 357 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Honeywell International | 7 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Deutsches Zentrum fur Luft- und Raumfahrt | 9 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Kia | 9 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering | 47 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Zodiac Seats France | 9 | Unlock Company Profile |
| SZ DJI Technology | 9 | Unlock Company Profile |
| EADS Deutschland | 12 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Meditor European Master Fund | 30 | Unlock Company Profile |
| ArianeGroup | 12 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Alakai Technologies | 6 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Aurora Innovation | 8 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Linde | 8 | Unlock Company Profile |
| HD Hyundai | 65 | Unlock Company Profile |
| ZeroAvia | 11 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Centre National Research Scientific | 6 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Spawnt | 6 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Guangdong Hydrogen Energy Science and Technology | 7 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Universal Hydrogen | 15 | Unlock Company Profile |
| PowiDian | 7 | Unlock Company Profile |
| The French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission | 39 | Unlock Company Profile |
Source: GlobalData Patent Analytics
European aircraft manufacturer Airbus is one of the leading patent filers in electric-hydrogen hybrid engines. The company is at the forefront of innovation in alternative propulsion systems and hybrid powered aircraft. It unveiled a fuel cell-powered aircraft engine called ZEROe in November 2022. Expected to enter commercial service by 2035, the low-carbon engine will use hydrogen as a power source for aircraft propulsion. The engine design incorporates a hydrogen gas turbine, which can be paired with fuel cells instead of batteries in a hybrid-electric architecture, with fuel cells converting hydrogen into electricity to propel the engine.
Some other key patent filers in the electric-hydrogen hybrid propulsion space include Safran, Boeing, and Raytheon Technologies.
In terms of application diversity, Thales, Snecma, and Rolls-Royce are some of the leading innovators. By means of geographic reach, some of the leading patent filers include Thales, Safran, and Diehl Stiftung.
To further understand the key themes and technologies disrupting the aerospace and defense industry, access GlobalData’s latest thematic research report on Sustainability in Aerospace and Defense.
Premium Insights
From
The gold standard of business intelligence.
Blending expert knowledge with cutting-edge technology, GlobalData’s unrivalled proprietary data will enable you to decode what’s happening in your market. You can make better informed decisions and gain a future-proof advantage over your competitors.
GlobalData, the leading provider of industry intelligence, provided the underlying data, research, and analysis used to produce this article.
GlobalData’s Patent Analytics tracks patent filings and grants from official offices around the world. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.
