The World's Most Innovative Companies

Fast Company has published a list of the 50 most innovative companies 2012. The top 10 are:

1. Apple

2. Facebook

3. Google

4. Amazon

5. Square

6. Twitter

7. Occupy Movement

8. Tencent

9. Life Technologies

10. Solar City

The list is a subjective choice by the magazine and is dominated by US companies and high-tech companies. But ther reasons for each choice are given and it makes compelling reading.

In 2010 Businessweek collaborated with Boston Consulting Group to publish their 2010 list of the 50 most innovative companies in the world based on a survey of corporate executives. There has been considerable movement in the list from previous years although Apple retains a firm grip on the top spot. China with 4 entries, India with 2 and South Korea with 3 have all increased their showing. Britain has 4 entrants - Virgin, BSkyB, Vodafone and HSBC. Germany has 3 companies in the list and France has none. Here is the full list.

1 Apple U.S.
2 Google U.S.
3 Microsoft U.S.
4 IBM U.S.
5 Toyota Motor Japan
6 Amazon.com U.S.
7 LG Electronics South Korea
8 BYD China
9 General Electric U.S.
10 Sony Japan
11 Samsung Electronics South Korea
12 Intel U.S.
13 Ford Motor U.S.
14 Research In Motion Canada
15 Volkswagen Germany
16 Hewlett-Packard U.S.
17 Tata Group India
18 BMW Germany
19 Coca-Cola U.S.
20 Nintendo Japan
21 Wal-Mart Stores U.S.
22 Hyundai Motor South Korea
23 Nokia Finland
24 Virgin Group Britain
25 Procter & Gamble U.S.
26 Honda Motor Japan
27 Fast Retailing Japan
28 Haier Electronics China
29 McDonalds U.S.
30 Lenovo China
31 Cisco Systems U.S.
32 Walt Disney U.S.
33 Reliance Industries India
34 Siemens Germany
35 Dell U.S.
36 Nestlé Switzerland
37 British Sky Broadcasting Britain
38 Vodafone Britain
39 JPMorgan Chase U.S.
40 Oracle U.S.
41 Petrobras Brazil
42 Banco Santander Spain
43 Fiat Italy
44 China Mobile China
45 Goldman Sachs U.S.
46 Nike U.S.
47 HTC Taiwan
48 Facebook U.S.
49 HSBC Britain
50 Verizon Communications U.S.

Here is the full list. as an interactive table.

The survey methodology is highly subjective and depends on what the survey group perceive as innovative. However, reputations matter and this list gives a powerful indication that the tide of innovation is gradually turning towards the East.

Paul Sloane writes and speaks on innovation. He is the author of The Innovative Leader.

http://www.destination-innovation.com