The latest figures show that the number of IoT patent applications in the industry rose to 133 in the three months to November, up from 298 in the same period last year.

IoT-related granted patent figures followed a similar trend to filings – rising from 114 in the three months ending November last year to 72 this year.

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 subject areas and linked to key companies in various industries.

IoT is one of the key areas tracked by GlobalData. It has been identified as a key disruptive force that companies will face in the years to come, and it is one of the areas where companies currently investing resources should reap rewards.

The numbers also provide insight into the biggest innovators in the industry.

Porsche Automobil Holding SE was the leading Internet of Things innovator in automotive manufacturing and supply in the past quarter. The German-headquartered company filed 32 IoT-related patents in the three months to November. That was down from 63 during the same period last year.

It was followed by Japanese company Honda Motor Co Ltd with 26 IoT patent applications, Chinese company BYD Co Ltd (12 applications) and French company Peugeot SA (9 applications).

BYD Co Ltd has recently accelerated R&D in the Internet of Things. It recorded 58.3% growth in related patent applications in the three months to November compared to the same period last year – the highest percentage growth of any company tracked with more than 10 quarterly patents in the automotive manufacturing and supply industry.