Safran : ranked second in France for patents filed, reflecting razor-sharp focus on innovation

Paris, April 11, 2014

According to the list announced today by French intellectual property agency INPI (Institut National de la Propriété Industrielle), Safran was ranked second in France in 2013 with 645 patents published, moving up one spot in the rankings.

Safran therefore maintains its position among the top three companies in France for the number of patents filed. The Group's INPI ranking clearly reflects its corporate strategy based on innovation and technological differentiation in all of its businesses.

"Our R&D teams can be very proud of finishing second in the INPI ranking," said Jean-Paul Herteman, Chairman and CEO of Safran. "The past year especially rich in this area, with continued work on our new Safran Composites research center, and the signature of pivotal partnerships with the CEA and Onera research centers and auto-parts giant Valeo. Our R&D expenditures reached 1.8 billion euros, equal to more than 12% of consolidated sales. We are now gearing up for the opening at the end of the year of a center dedicated to research, technology and innovation, in the Saclay technology cluster near Paris. Our R&T Center will develop new technologies for all of our businesses."

Since being founded, Safran has always encouraged its employees' entrepreneurial spirit in all areas and at all levels of the enterprise, from innovation on the shop floor to disruptive technologies. In 2013, more than 50,000 improvement ideas from employees across Safran were put into practice. And Safran has also noticed a strong rise in the number of employees cited for the first time as inventors in patent applications.

Safran will once again organize its annual Safran Innovation Awards this year, on May 22, 2014, to honor the most promising initiatives from across the Group. These awards cover innovation in all areas, including technologies, practices, products and services.

Safran is a leading international high-technology group with three core businesses: Aerospace (propulsion and equipment), Defence and Security. Operating worldwide, the Group has 66,300 employees and generated sales of 14.7 billion euros in 2013. Working alone or in partnership, Safran holds world or European leadership positions in its core markets. The Group invests heavily in Research & Development to meet the requirements of changing markets, including expenditures of 1.8 billion Euros in 2013. Safran is listed on NYSE Euronext Paris and is part of the CAC40 index.
For more information, www.safran-group.com / Follow @SAFRAN on Twitter