Focus on research and development
R&D costs (including capitalized development costs) amounted to EUR 82.1 million in the 2021 financial year (2020: EUR 76.1 million). This equates to an R&D ratio of 5.1% (2020: 5.1%), which is thus within the target range of around 5 – 6% (including capitalized development costs). Out of this total, the amount capitalized was EUR 17.2 million (2020: EUR 12.4 million), giving a capitalization ratio of 21.0% (2020: 16.2%). Amortization and impairment losses of capitalized development costs amounted to EUR 4.2 million in the year under review (2020: EUR 12.8 million).
ElringKlinger always seeks legal protection for new developments on both a product and a process level. The centralized patent department is tasked with protecting the company’s technological expertise and intellectual property rights. In 2021, it applied for a total of 105 (2020: 86) new patents, particularly in the strategic fields of the future. ElringKlinger has largely centralized its R&D operations to prevent technology transfer and a “brain drain.” These development activities are mainly concentrated at the Original Equipment and Engineered Plastics sites in Germany and at the US sites in the Detroit area and Michigan. All the company’s other sites largely handle comparably minor development tasks and adjustments.