Technological advances are continually improving our lives. Many of these advancements are the result of key inventions being shared across different industries, enabling new and disruptive products and services to be brought to market. In just a few short decades, for example, mobile phones have moved from projects in research labs to affordable devices in the hands of billions of people in every country around the world. Founded in 2016, Avanci’s vision is to transform and accelerate this sharing of technology, which led to its recognition in 2020 by the World Economic Forum as a Technology Pioneer. 

Avanci began with the idea of offering a simple and efficient option for companies creating connected products to access the patented cellular technologies developed by the telecom industry. This was not at all straightforward, as the cellular technologies that connect our world are built on the collective works of thousands of inventors, at hundreds of companies and research institutions across the globe. 

As the use of cellular technologies expanded to the IoT, Avanci created a new licensing model, where patent owners and the companies using their patented technologies to fuel further innovation in new products participate jointly in a “one-stop shop.” Working at the intersection of the telecom and automotive industries, Avanci’s first licensing program was for the 4G, 3G and 2G cellular technologies used in connected vehicles. The program launched in 2017 and now spans almost 100 auto brands, around 60 patent owners and over 150 million vehicles on the world’s roads.  

During 2023, Avanci introduced further licensing programs for many of the most advanced connected products, including 5G connected vehicles, EV chargers, smart meters, and more. Moving beyond cellular connectivity, Avanci also launched programs covering NextGen TV, and video technologies used for internet streaming.

Though seemingly diverse technologies, a common thread in all Avanci solutions is the goal of offering options for jointly licensing patents owned by many companies in a single agreement with transparent pricing, increasing efficiency for all, and allowing innovative companies to focus on doing what they do best – creating new products and services for people around the world.