A new platform is being launched by SKF in an effort to broaden access to technology by making selected patents freely available.

SKF asserts that The Patent Bay technology-sharing platform also has the potential to advance sustainability by reducing the impact on the environment.

“Innovation is essential for a sustainable future, and history shows that real breakthroughs happen when we share. The Patent Bay is our way of unlocking that potential—creating ripple effects across industries and society,” says SKF CEO Rickard Gustafson.  

The company says that the launch comes at a time when global patent filings are at an all-time high, noting that, according to the World Intellectual Property Organisation, 3.55-million patent applications were filed globally in 2023—more than double the number in 1995. SKF further states that, while this reflects a strong innovation climate, it also highlights the growing challenge of access and collaboration.  

The first patent released on the platform is a high-performance bearing alloy developed for the aviation industry.

“This new bearing material can handle higher loads in a more compact form, enabling high performance bearing solutions for new architectures of engines designed to reduce emissions by up to 25%. The same technology opens door to further innovation, where efficiency and sustainability are key,” says SKF technology innovation manager Arnaud Ruellan.