"Our findings could reflect the type of dissemination methods used by NICE, " said James Ryan, who used to based at the University of York.

BBC: NEWS | Health | Health watchdog guidance 'ignored'

The rankings reflect the number of U.S. utility-patents, which are the most common type of patents awarded for protecting intellectual property and technological innovation, received by companies around the world in 2010 based on data from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

FORBES: U.S. Reclaims Top Spot in Global Innovation Rankings

Concentrating on a single vessel type helped to boost productivity, as the yard refined its production methods and rejigged workers' pay to reflect qualifications and experience.

ECONOMIST: Shipbuilding