No. 62: Essilor International

No. 62 Essilor International

Innovation Premium: 45.2%

The French maker of ophthalmic devices is the largest maker of lenses in the world. It spends 200 million euros (equivalent to $226 million) on innovation annually, and Essilor is also a robust acquirer of other companies.

Recent innovations include Varilux Comfort, which boast sharp, natural vision at any distance, even in low lighting conditions. Essilor was able to achieve this through its proprietary WAVE technology that tests prototype lenses with a laser to spot and remove the tiny imperfections that can distort vision through lenses. The company's Varilux Physio includes the added benefit of smooth transition from near to far distances.

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[Varilux Comfort promotional image courtesy of Essilor International]