Strategy & Activities

Core Policy

To address social issues and create new markets through our business, strategically link the Group's intellectual property and rule-making, standardization activities to front-load business initiatives, establish rules to advance business successfully. These focus areas are meant to transform the Group into innovative companies that create sustainable management in support of Group-wide businesses, marketing, sales, and research and development.

Contribution of intellectual property activities

Mitsubishi Electric Group's intellectual property in numbers

• *1As announced by Patent Result Co., Ltd (From Apr. 2024-Mar. 2025 Data)
• *2As announced by Japan Patent Office (From Jan.-Dec. 2025 Data）
• *3As announced by Patent Result Co., Ltd (From Jan.-Dec. 2025 Data）
• *4As announced by World Intellectual Property Organization (From Jan.–Dec. 2025 Data）
• *5As announced by Patent Result Co., Ltd （Aggregated Data as of Dec. 2024）

Intellectual Property Policy for Sustainability Management

Solving social challenges through economic rationality are required for sustainability management. The problem of tackling these exceedingly difficult and costly challenges alone can be resolved by establishing a framework and ecosystem for 'co-creation' where multiple, unrelated business entities are able to collaborate.

Effective co-creation requires established standardization and regulations of the country where businesses are located In addition to complying with the rules and regulations of each country. Pro-active involvement in rule-making is such necessary step in establishing a co-creation ecosystem where intellectual property can be secured by each respective company and rules for the utilization of such intellectual property can be put in place.

Structure to Support Intellectual Property and Standardization and the State of Intellectual Property Activities

The essential structure of Mitsubishi Electric Group's intellectual property consists of the intellectual property departments at our factories, R&D centers, affiliated companies, and the Intellectual Property Division at Mitsubishi Electric's head office that provides overall supervision.

The Corporate Intellectual Property Division (CIPD) is also assigning intellectual property representatives located in key countries and regions for the purpose of enhancing local intellectual property capabilities and to work alongside the intellectual property divisions of the Group's overseas associated companies to undertake measures against counterfeit products.

The creation of intellectual property in a respective country will align with the level of business that the Group has in the country.

Rule-making and standardization activities are currently utilizing our Group's European locations, but going forward, the Group will enhance global rule-making and standardization activities at Mitsubishi Electric Group locations not only in Europe, but in other regions, as well.

The goal of the Group is to develop a robust and globally regarded patent network by strategically increasing overseas patent filings that are foreseen to increase in proportion to growth in overseas revenue.

• Brand Protection

Key Themes

Themes that require Group-wide response due to changes in business environments are proposed by the Corporate Intellectual Property Division (CIPD) that takes the lead in promoting intellectual property and standardization activities alongside other business headquarters and affiliated Group companies.

The Corporate Intellectual Property Division (CIPD) has selected key themes related to three of our material issues:
- “Realizing a sustainable global environment”
- “Realizing a safe, secure, and comfortable society”
- “Respecting all people”

Example of important themes

Change to the intellectual property portfolio taking into consideration corporate strategy

FLOW (Number of applications)

The Group is strengthening AI (including generative AI) and solution-related patent applications in order to accelerate the Group's transformation into an innovative company.

Since FY2021, the Corporate Intellectual Property Division (CIPD) has set a target ratio for the number of patent applications filed by the Company and established the ratio as a key performance index (KPI). The goal is to increase this ratio for solution-related patents filed.

Although the Group has already achieved its targets for AI-related patent applications, the Corporate Intellectual Property Division (CIPD) will maintain the target values going forward and focus on improving quality.

STOCK（Number of patents owned）

Component-related patents account for more than 50% of the patents we hold worldwide.
While ensuring the Group's international competitiveness in terms of the patent portfolio, the Mitsubishi Electric Group's businesses will continue to be supported through the strengthening of the technologies that support strong components and advanced digital technologies in order to create new value that leverage the data obtained through Serendie.

＊FY2025 Mitsubishi Electric research

Acquiring global intellectual property rights

The Mitsubishi Electric Group is accelerating the globalization of its intellectual property activities by filing applications in advance of business expansion in emerging countries where future business is expected. In addition, the Group has stationed representatives in charge of intellectual property activities at each of our locations in the United States, Europe, China, and Southeast Asia, to support the strengthening of the intellectual property capabilities of our business bases, research institutes, and affiliated companies in each country, as well as to collect, research, and analyze information on policies and standardization trends related to the laws and regulations across the globe.

Overseas intellectual property representative base

Open Technology Bank

Open Technology Bank (OTB) was established in FY2022 to promote internal and external collaboration by Mitsubishi Electric Group using intellectual property as a starting point to realize a sustainable future.

By strategically utilizing intellectual property (IP) as a tool for co-creation, the Group works to create new businesses that can contribute to solving social challenges.

In FY2025, Open Technology Bank (OTB) was recognized as an intellectual property achievement by the Japan Patent Office (JPO) and its awarding of the Commissioner of the Japan Patent Office Award to the Group as an open innovation promotion company.

Enhancing rule-making and standardization activities

Digitalization is changing industry structures in a direction where products and services are connected beyond the boundaries of companies and industries.
In response to this, standardization is becoming increasingly important as a means to expand and acquire global markets.
Mitsubishi Electric Group is actively engaged in shaping rules and participating in standardization activities in order to secure sustainable competitive advantage and continue contributing to the resolution of social issues through its business activities.

Holding key positions in international Standards Development Organizations (SDO) and leading global activities within such

Approximately 1,200 members of Mitsubishi Electric Group participate in rule-making and standardization activities, including in positions as key figures in international standardization organizations with the aim of strengthening activities to secure market superiority through rule-making.
In recognition of the Group's leadership in international standardization activities and collaboration with diverse stakeholders to help solve social challenges, members received numerous awards.

• *1International Electrotechnical Commission
• *2International Organization for Standardization
• *3International Telecommunication Union Telecommunication Standardization Sector
• *4Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Standards Association

Examples of Rule-Making and Standardization Initiatives

The Mitsubishi Electric Group establishes priority projects for themes that span multiple business areas.
To provide integrated solutions that generate new value through the use of data, the Group promotes rule-making and international standardization activities—integrated with intellectual property initiatives—in alignment with its business and development strategies.

• refer to the PDF below for details

Human Resource Development and Internal Qualification System

The Mitsubishi Electric Group operates an in-house qualification system aimed at improving practical skills in intellectual property development and international standardization, including educational programs for this purpose.
The Group has established four qualifications according to responsibilities, along with an educational system tailored to those qualifications. Additionally, the Group has established a certification system for qualifying intellectual property analysts.

Awards

The Mitsubishi Electric Group's track record in the intellectual property and standardization has received high praise from outside businesses and industry.

Intellectual Property

The Intellectual Property Achievement Awards for 2025;Awards from Commissioner of the Japan Patent Office [Open innovation promotion companies]
Awarded in recognition of the activities to promote collaboration within and outside the Mitsubishi Electric Group based on intellectual property. The Group was also highly acclaimed for its open innovation initiative.
2025 Industrial Standardization Awards;Director-General, Innovation and Environment Policy Bureau’s Award [Industrial Standardization Contribution Organization Award]
Awarded in recognition of activities to establish and enhance organizational structures for standardization, as well as to nurture human capital in standardization.
Clarivate Top 100 Global Innovators 2026
Recipient of the award fourteen times in recognition as one of the world's top 100 companies for innovation with outstanding intellectual property
Clarivate AI50 2026
Selected as one of the top 50 companies and research institutions globally holding influential AI-related patents (6 companies from Japan, including our group, received the award).

Standardizations

Respecting Intellectual Property Rights

The Mitsubishi Electric Group firmly recognizes the importance of mutually acknowledging and respecting not only its own intellectual property rights, but the intellectual property rights of others, as well. This stance is clearly set forth in the Mitsubishi Electric Group Conduct Guidelines and practiced throughout the Group.

In order to prevent infringement on the intellectual property rights of others, various educational measures are provided primarily to engineers and intellectual property officers in order to raise employee awareness and promote greater respect for the intellectual property rights of others. At the same time, a set of rules are in place to ensure that a survey of the patent rights of others by Mitsubishi Electric Group is carried out at every stage from development to production. The Mitsubishi Electric Group places particular weight on collaborating with industry organizations while approaching government agencies, both in Japan and overseas, as a part of a wide range of measures to prevent the counterfeiting of Group products.