Each year, the editors of MIT Technology Review search for the smartest companies using innovative technologies and business models in the areas of transportation, computing & communications, biotech, Internet & digital media, and energy. With the right combination of practicality and ambition in the business model, companies implementing innovations like robots, solar panel factories and fertility treatments have made it to MIT Technology Review’s 50 Smartest Companies 2015.
Taking the No. 1 spot and surpassing the most popular tech giants including Apple, Google and Microsoft ““ is Tesla Motors. The company aims to revolutionize the energy grid for industry, utilities and residences; by developing electric cars and an innovative line of batteries. Though many car companies have struggled to sell electric cars, Tesla motors, during its first full year of electric car sales, sold more than twice as many cars as Nissan and GM.
According to JB Straubel, a founding team member and Chief Technical Officer of Tesla Motors, “We’re on track to getting to costs that will allow us to make a $35,000 car with a greater-than-200-mile range. It doesn’t require some mythical invention. All the pieces are fundamentally there.”
Following a period of research breakthroughs and life-saving innovations in the health industry, the biotech sector had the biggest year with 15 of the 50 smartest companies being involved in the biotech industry. Powered by genomic analysis, several companies listed have developed products to treat severe diseases like No. 15, Gilead Sciences, who created the first pill to cure hepatitis C; and No. 26, Bristol-Myers Squibb, who developed an immunotherapy drug to save the lives of skin and lung cancer patients.
In contrast, only seven energy companies were smart enough to make the list: SunEdison, Solar City, IDE Technologies, Aquion Energy, Sakti3, Philips and Imprint Energy. SunEdison made the list with its mission to provide electricity to third world and developing countries.
Xiaomi, Illumina, Alibaba, and Counsyl round out the top 5.
To view a full list of the 2015 MIT Technology Review 50 Smartest Companies, visit http://www.technologyreview.com/lists/companies/2015/
