For nine years in a row, Apple has been the most innovative company on the planet, according to report by Boston Consulting Group, the elite consultancy.
Since last year’s list, Google climbed over Samsung to take the second spot, sliding the South Korean manufacturer into third, even as 50% of the total number are from the information technology (IT) and telecommunications industry.
Three companies vaulted into the top 50: The Japanese conglomerate Hitachi landed at No. 37, Marc Benioff‘s SalesForce.com landed at No. 40, and the Chinese phone maker Xiaomi made it all the way to No. 35.
Automobiles saw the biggest drop-off of any industry.
A full 14 made the 2013 list, and that number fell to just nine this year.
The world’s 50 most innovative companies are: Apple, Google, Samsung, Microsoft, IBM, Amazon, Tesla Motors, Toyota Motors, Facebook, Sony, Hewlett-Packard, General Electric, Intel, Cisco Systems, Siemens, Coca-Cola, LG Electronics, BMW, Ford Motor and Dell.
Others are, Volkswagon, 3M, Lenovo Group, Nike, Daimler, General Motors, Shell, Audi, Philips, Softbank, Procter & Gambler, Fiat, Airbus, Boeing, Xiaomi Technology, Yahoo, Hitachi, McDonald’s, Oracle, Salesforce.com, Fast Retailing, Wal-Mart, Tata Group, Nestle, Bayer, Starbucks, Tencent Holdings, BASF, Unilever and Huawei Technologies.