Fit for the future: focus on patent quality takes AT&S to the top

The quality-focused IP strategy of Styrian microelectronics company AT&S is bearing fruit. An evaluation using the Patentsight analysis tool shows that AT&S achieves the highest patent quality by far when compared to direct competitors in the HDI (High Density Interconnect) segment.

Leoben, October 10, 2025 – In the electronics and microelectronics industry, innovative patents are the key to a successful future. AT&S is an important driver of market innovation with more than 1700 protective titles granted. The intellectual property experts at AT&S have been pursuing an adapted IP strategy for seven years, which ensures that all patents and submissions meet the highest international standards. An evaluation using the Patentsight analysis tool shows that these efforts are paying off: Among the ten leading electronics manufacturers in the field of high-density interconnect printed circuit boards (these are highly complex printed circuit boards with a particularly high circuit density), AT&S has been number one in terms of patent quality for around two years, and the gap is widening.

The criteria for assessing patent quality with Patentsight include, for example, the size of the markets in which patent protection applies, the technological significance of a patent and the impact of the protected technology on competitiveness. These factors are evaluated separately and then result in an index that reflects the strength of a company’s entire patent portfolio. The excellent rating of the AT&S catalog shows that an improvement in patent quality can bring rapid success even with a high initial value.

Quality instead of quantity

“While some competitors tend to focus on quantity when it comes to patent applications, we have made a conscious decision to focus on quality. We are very proud that we have demonstrably been on the right track here since 2019. Our team has done an excellent job, which has been rewarded with first place in the HDI patents,” says Gernot Grober, Head of Intellectual Property at AT&S. The attached chart shows the TOP 10 HDI suppliers according to the Prismark study Q4/2024 and the development since 2016.

“This evaluation illustrates the enormous effort that AT&S has made in recent years to put our IP management system on a new footing. With completely new ideas and approaches for our patents, we have improved our position far beyond the industry standard. As one of the leading manufacturers of HDI printed circuit boards, we are now playing in the Champions League when it comes to a holistic view of patents,” says Gernot Grober.

AT&S Austria Technologie & Systemtechnik Aktiengesellschaft – Advanced Technologies & Solutions
AT&S is a leading global manufacturer of high-end IC substrates and printed circuit boards. AT&S develops and produces leading-edge interconnect technologies for key digital industries: mobile devices, automotive & aerospace, industrial, medical and high-performance computing for AI applications. With production sites in Austria (Leoben, Fehring), China (Shanghai, Chongqing), Malaysia (Kulim), India (Nanjangud) and a European competence center for R&D and IC substrate production in Leoben, AT&S is actively shaping the digital transformation – through forward-looking investments in research and development and the responsible use of resources. The company currently employs around 13,000 people.

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