The number of patent applications filed by Siemens continues to rise: in fiscal 2012, the company filed some 4,600 patent applications – seven percent more than a year earlier. Siemens' patent portfolio now comprises 57,300 patents worldwide. The number of invention disclosures submitted also reached a new high of 8,900. Twelve particularly successful researchers and developers whom Siemens honored as Inventors of the Year 2012 in Munich on December 13 played a leading role here. These individuals alone account for 613 invention disclosures and 734 individual patents. "Your brilliant ideas are the basis for highly innovative products that are already driving energy efficiency and productivity in many industries," said Siemens President and CEO Peter Löscher at the awards ceremony. "With every invention and every patent, our researchers and developers are paving the way for Siemens' continued growth."
- Revenue slightly above prior-year level
- Book-to-bill ratio again above 1
- Total Sectors profit up four percent
- No economic tailwinds expected in fiscal 2013
Siemens is starting fiscal 2013 with solid figures. Compared to the same period last year, revenue increased slightly in the first quarter due to the good order backlog. Although new orders declined moderately year-over-year, the book-to-bill ratio was again above 1, having been below 1 for the previous three quarters in a row. Total Sectors profit rose four percent. "In an uncertain economic environment, we got off to a solid start in fiscal 2013. For the rest of the year as well, we don't expect any tailwinds from the global economy to help us reach our ambitious goals. Our full attention is on implementing our Siemens 2014 program," said Siemens President and CEO Peter Löscher.
In fiscal 2012, Siemens achieved a seven percent gain in revenue and a strong profit. Income from continuing operations was €5.2 billion and thus in line with expectations. New orders declined ten percent year-over-year. "A strong fourth quarter enabled us to fulfill our expectations for fiscal 2012 and achieve one of our best years ever," said Peter Löscher, President and CEO of Siemens AG. "Even so, we didn't fully succeed in significantly boosting our performance vis-à-vis competitors, as we did in recent years. To get back to reaching our own goals, we've launched 'Siemens 2014,' a company-wide program aimed at raising our Total Sectors profit margin to at least 12 percent. We know what we have to do – and we're doing it."
Siemens has opened its first center for sustainable urban development in London. The heart of the Crystal is the world's largest exhibition dedicated to sustainable urban development. The crystal-shaped building will serve as a conference center, urban dialogue platform and technology and innovation center all in one, bringing together political decision-makers, infrastructure experts and the general public in order to develop concepts for the future of cities and their infrastructures. "Cities are the engines of the world economy and also have the greatest impact on the environment. The development of our planet will stand or fall with the development of cities. Looking ahead to the urban future, the Crystal showcases a wide variety of opportunities and concrete solutions," said Siemens President and CEO Peter Löscher at the opening ceremony.
In fiscal 2011, Siemens generated 8,600 inventions, nearly 40 per working day – a ten percent increase year-over-year. The number of invention reports per Siemens R&D employee (current R&D workforce: 27,800) has doubled in the last ten years. Initial patent applications filed by the company rose to 4,300, nearly 20 per working day – a 15 percent increase over the previous year. In Europe, Siemens was Number 1 in patent applications for the first time. Twelve extremely successful researchers and developers, who were honored in Munich on November 22 with the company's Inventor of the Year Award, made key contributions to this achievement. Altogether, these researchers generated 730 invention reports and 636 individual patents. "Every day, they've demonstrated pioneering spirit, entrepreneurial thinking and international teamwork – exactly the factors we'll need to continue succeeding on the world markets of tomorrow," said Siemens President and CEO Peter Löscher at the awards ceremony. Löscher also announced that Siemens' R&D investments in fiscal 2012 would exceed the previous year's level (€3.9 billion) by about €500 million.
The Annual Shareholders’ Meeting of Siemens AG has approved the current compensation system for the Managing Board as well as a new compensation system for the Supervisory Board. The shareholders have also ratified the acts of the Managing and Supervisory Boards for fiscal 2010. As recommended by the Managing and Supervisory Boards, the Annual Shareholders’ Meeting has approved a dividend of €2.70 per share. The proposals regarding these agenda items were approved by large majorities.
Siemens ended fiscal 2011 with record operating results and begins the new fiscal year in a position of strength. Total sectors profit climbed by 36 percent to €9.1 billion, income from continuing operations by nearly two-thirds to €7 billion. Revenue and new orders also increased. While revenue from continuing operations grew seven percent to €73.5 billion, new orders rose 16 percent to €85.6 billion. Peter Löscher, President and CEO of Siemens AG stated: "With a strong fourth quarter in a turbulent economic environment, we ended fiscal 2011 with record operating results. With our new organization in four Sectors, we have aligned our business even more closely with our customers. Siemens has a strong portfolio and stands for stability and confidence in troubled times. We are well positioned for moderate revenue growth in fiscal 2012 and surpassing the €100 billion revenue threshold in the medium term."
Siemens is again the uncontested leader in patent applications in Europe. According to the 2011 Patent Applicant Ranking of the European Patent Office (EPO), the company submitted 2,235 patent applications (excluding Osram: 1,994) to the EPO in calendar year 2011 to capture first place in the European patent statistics. Siemens also increased its lead over its next-ranked rivals. "I'm very proud of this achievement – it's a testimony to our employees' power of innovation. Innovations strengthen our position in international competition and create jobs," said Siemens President and CEO Peter Löscher. Löscher confirmed that Siemens will continue to invest in research and development at the current high level. In fiscal 2011, the company channeled nearly €4 billion into research and development, of which over €1 billion went to develop green technologies.
Siemens will start off fiscal 2012 on October 1, 2011 with a further developed structure. The newly founded Infrastructure & Cities Sector begins operation on that day, as planned. In the future, the operating businesses of Siemens will be organized in the Industry, Infrastructure & Cities, Energy, and Healthcare Sectors. By forming the new Sector, the company plans to be a leading participant in the dynamic growth of cities and infrastructure investments. "We are rigorously focusing our business on growth. Our new setup will put us even closer to our customers. The Infrastructure & Cities Sector will open up additional business opportunities in the growth market of cities," said Peter Löscher, President and CEO of Siemens AG. "Cities face the enormous challenge of reconciling urban growth with a good quality of life. We can offer them comprehensive solutions from one hand to achieve this. In order to better serve the needs of cities, we are focusing the new Sector specifically on cities and infrastructure," stated Roland Busch, CEO of the Infrastructure & Cities Sector.
In connection with Siemens’ organizational changes, the Supervisory Board of Siemens AG, at its meeting on March 28, 2011, appointed three new members to the company’s Managing Board. Roland Busch, currently head of Corporate Strategies, will be CEO of the newly created Infrastructure & Cities Sector. Klaus Helmrich, currently CEO of the Drive Technologies Division, will hold the Managing Board portfolio for Technology. Michael Süß, currently CEO of the Fossil Power Generation Division, will be CEO of the Energy Sector. All three will assume their Managing Board positions on April 1, 2011. Wolfgang Dehen, currently CEO of the Energy Sector, will leave the Managing Board of Siemens AG to become CEO of the Executive Board of Osram GmbH.