Samsung Electronics Co, the world's top maker of smartphones, memory chips and flat-panel TVs, and two other South Korean companies were named among the world's top 100 global innovators, a study showed Tuesday.

The two other companies were LG Electronics Inc., the world's third-largest smartphone maker, and LS Industrial Systems Co., a leading South Korean manufacturer of electric components, according to the annual study by Thomson Reuters.

It marked the third consecutive year that Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics and LS Industrial Systems have made it onto the list.

The accolade was given to companies and institutes that demonstrated innovation by measuring factors such as the volume and influence of their patents.

By country, the United States topped the list with 45 companies, including Apple Inc. and Google Inc. Japan trailed behind with 27 companies and one research institute, including Toyota Motor Corp. France was in third place with 12 companies. (Yonhap News)