So maybe IBM, Google, Apple, and other big dogs get the bulk of the patents.  Small firms can also drive innovation.  G. Michael Maddock and Raphael Louis Vitón of Maddock Douglas say the key is not the size of the firm, but the size of the idea.  And, writing at Businessweek, they argue not to waste anybody's time with small ideas:

So when it comes to industry-changing ideas, the size of the ideas and the resolve behind them really do matter.

We believe leaders should talk about big ideas. Big ideas get your company attention. They demand a higher price. They increase loyalty. They demonstrate that you know how to listen, invent, and take risks. Great leaders know how to recognize, promote, and successfully launch big ideas.

Small ideas do just the opposite. With all your big talk, you may get someone to look at them, but in the end they will cost you your reputation, your team’s loyalty, and your customer. Far too often, leaders make the mistake of talking about big ideas that are really embarrassingly small.

Read Innovation: Size Matters here.