Research and innovation in cybersecurity in the power industry operations and technologies sector has declined in the last year.

The most recent figures show that the number of related patent applications in the industry stood at 158 in the three months ending April – down from 203 over the same period in 2021.

Figures for patent grants related to followed a different pattern to filings – growing from 73 in the three months ending April 2021 to 88 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 rewards from. The figures also provide an insight into the largest innovators in the sector.

Siemens was the top innovator in the power industry operations and technologies sector in the latest quarter. The company, which has its headquarters in Germany, filed 109 related patents in the three months ending April. That was down from 137 over the same period in 2021.

It was followed by the US-based Honeywell International with 25 patent applications, South Korea-based Korea Electric Power (7 applications), and Switzerland-based ABB (6 applications).