Endress+Hauser celebrates innovation at 2026 Innovators' Meeting

Endress+Hauser continued to strengthen its innovation activities in 2025, investing more than €280 million in research and development while filing nearly 300 new patent applications worldwide.

The Swiss measurement and automation specialist highlighted its innovation performance during the company's 2026 Innovators’ Meeting in Basel, where developers and engineers from across the group gathered to present new technologies and exchange ideas.

Nearly 300 patent applications in 2025

According to Endress+Hauser, the company submitted 294 initial patent applications worldwide last year and introduced 41 new products to the market. The group's intellectual property portfolio now comprises more than 9,400 active patents and patent applications.

The company also reported a strong influx of new inventors. A total of 89 employees were involved in a patent application for the first time in 2025, while a number of long-standing innovators continued to contribute new developments.

“The Innovators’ Meeting highlights just how much expertise, creativity, teamwork and perseverance go into our products,” said Dr. Mirko Lehmann, Chief Technology Officer of the Endress+Hauser Group.

Research spending reaches €281 million

Endress+Hauser invested €281.4 million in research and development in 2025, an increase of 2.1% compared with the previous year. R&D expenditure represented 7.0% of annual sales.

More than 1,300 employees are dedicated exclusively to research and development activities across the group, focusing on technologies for process automation, industrial measurement and digital services.

The company noted that the slight reduction in the R&D-to-sales ratio compared with the previous year was primarily related to accounting effects following the acquisition of the gas instrumentation business from Endress+Hauser SICK.

Focus on digitalization and sustainability

Endress+Hauser's innovation strategy increasingly combines traditional measurement technology with digital solutions. The company is investing in areas such as connectivity, firmware development, cloud-based applications and artificial intelligence to enhance industrial process monitoring and optimization.

Another important focus area is the measurement and analysis of material properties, supporting customers across a range of industries in improving process efficiency and product quality.

Sustainability also plays a growing role in product development. In 2025, the company introduced its Ecodesign & Circularity Award, recognizing projects that combine environmental benefits, resource efficiency and technical performance.

Innovation culture spans generations

The 2026 event also marked the 25th edition of the Innovators’ Meeting, which was first held in 2001.

Of the 101 inventors who participated in the inaugural event, 35 still work for the company today. Fifteen of them were involved in patent applications again in 2025, highlighting what Endress+Hauser describes as a strong culture of knowledge transfer between experienced developers and new innovators.

“Our innovative strength thrives on the collaboration between experienced and new inventors,” said Dr. Christine Koslowski, Director of Intellectual Property Rights at Endress+Hauser. “Experience is passed on and new ideas can flourish.”

Source and Photo: Endress