The technology industry continues to be a hotbed of patent innovation. Activity is driven by the need for rapid prototyping, customization, and innovative design solutions across various industries, and growing importance of technologies such as generative adversarial networks (GANs) and deep learning to autonomously generate and refine designs, spanning from graphics to industrial products. In the last three years alone, there have been over 1.5 million patents filed and granted in the technology industry, according to GlobalData’s report on Artificial intelligence in technology: GenAI for design. Buy the report here.

However, not all innovations are equal and nor do they follow a constant upward trend. Instead, their evolution takes the form of an S-shaped curve that reflects their typical lifecycle from early emergence to accelerating adoption, before finally stabilizing and reaching maturity.

Identifying where a particular innovation is on this journey, especially those that are in the emerging and accelerating stages, is essential for understanding their current level of adoption and the likely future trajectory and impact they will have.

185+ innovations will shape the technology industry

According to GlobalData’s Technology Foresights, which plots the S-curve for the technology industry using innovation intensity models built on over 1.6 million patents, there are 185+ innovation areas that will shape the future of the industry.

Within the emerging innovation stage, quantum AI, GenAI for coding and emotion AI are disruptive technologies that are in the early stages of application and should be tracked closely. Biological computing models, defect detection models, and circuit designing AI are some of the accelerating innovation areas, where adoption has been steadily increasing.

Innovation S-curve for artificial intelligence in the technology industry

GenAI for design is a key innovation area in artificial intelligence

GenAI for design involves utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) algorithms to enhance and streamline diverse design procedures. This encompasses employing AI methodologies such as deep learning and reinforcement learning to assess and create design frameworks, arrangements, and specifications. Through the utilization of these sophisticated algorithms, GenAI for design endeavors to elevate the productivity, precision, and overall performance of design activities across different fields.

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 2,585+ companies, spanning technology vendors, established technology companies, and up-and-coming start-ups engaged in the development and application of GenAI for design.

Key players in GenAI for design – a disruptive innovation in the technology 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 GenAI for design

Company Total patents (2010 - 2022) Premium intelligence on the world's largest companies
Tencent Technology (Shenzhen) 7 Unlock Company Profile
Lam Research 11 Unlock Company Profile
Schlumberger Technology 9 Unlock Company Profile
Landmark Graphics 26 Unlock Company Profile
Samsung Electronics 28 Unlock Company Profile
Robert Bosch 5 Unlock Company Profile
ASML Netherlands 24 Unlock Company Profile
Doosan Enerbility 5 Unlock Company Profile
Semiconductor Components Industries 8 Unlock Company Profile
Huawei Technologies 4 Unlock Company Profile
Schlumberger Canada 6 Unlock Company Profile
State Grid Zhejiang Electric Power 6 Unlock Company Profile
State Grid Tianjin Electric Power 8 Unlock Company Profile
Google 17 Unlock Company Profile
Guangdong Power Grid 5 Unlock Company Profile
Microsoft Technology Licensing 4 Unlock Company Profile
Stmicroelectronics International 9 Unlock Company Profile
Bull 7 Unlock Company Profile
Valmet Automation 4 Unlock Company Profile
Cadence Design Systems 13 Unlock Company Profile
Services Petroliers Schlumberger 6 Unlock Company Profile
TCL Technology Group 4 Unlock Company Profile
Rolls-Royce 4 Unlock Company Profile
Qualcomm 8 Unlock Company Profile
Fanuc 7 Unlock Company Profile
Texas Instruments 14 Unlock Company Profile
Lam Research 13 Unlock Company Profile
Siemens 9 Unlock Company Profile
Synopsys 10 Unlock Company Profile
Chiyoda 5 Unlock Company Profile
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing 78 Unlock Company Profile
State Grid Corporation of China 73 Unlock Company Profile
Cetc Potevio Science and Technology 4 Unlock Company Profile
General Electric 4 Unlock Company Profile
China Southern Power Grid 16 Unlock Company Profile
China Petrochemical 8 Unlock Company Profile
Saudi Arabian Oil 8 Unlock Company Profile
NVIDIA 6 Unlock Company Profile
IBM 29 Unlock Company Profile
STMicroelectronics 21 Unlock Company Profile
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation 5 Unlock Company Profile
Intel 76 Unlock Company Profile
Global Foundries 11 Unlock Company Profile
D2S 6 Unlock Company Profile
InstaDeep 8 Unlock Company Profile
Chevron U. S. A 8 Unlock Company Profile
Passivelogic 8 Unlock Company Profile
BeamUP 15 Unlock Company Profile
Jiangsu University 12 Unlock Company Profile
Fuzhou University 10 Unlock Company Profile

Source: GlobalData Patent Analytics

Among the companies innovating in GenAI for design, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing is one of the leading patents filers. The company’s patents are aimed at disclosure that presents a technique and a system to assess the equivalence of the DRM dataset and the DRC dataset. The system acquires both datasets, converting them into a primary and secondary data structure node. It then evaluates whether these nodes align with each other based on a prescribed data structure node comparison model. The other prominent patent filers in the space include State Grid Corporation of China and Intel.

In terms of application diversity, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization leads the pack, while Intel and State Grid Corporation of China stood in the second and third positions, respectively. By means of geographical reach, Intel held the top position, followed by BeamUP and Texas Instruments.


GenAI for design holds substantial significance in revolutionizing the creative and technical aspects of design processes. By leveraging advanced artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms, it has the potential to automate and optimize design tasks across various industries, ranging from graphics to industrial products. The technology enhances efficiency, accuracy, and innovation in design, enabling professionals to create more sophisticated and tailored solutions, while also accelerating the overall design lifecycle. Additionally, GenAI for design opens new possibilities by generating novel design concepts, ultimately pushing the boundaries of what is achievable in the realm of design.

To further understand the key themes and technologies disrupting the technology industry, access GlobalData’s latest thematic research report on Artificial Intelligence (AI).

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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.