Last year, a total of 199,264 patent applications were submitted to the European Patent Office (EPO), as reported in the newly released Patent Index 2024.
The Industrial Property Organization noted that this level of patent activity is nearly identical to that of the previous year, which saw 199,452 applications, marking a slight decrease of 0.1%. This comes after three years of significant growth in patent filings.
EPO President António Campinos commented on the findings, stating, “Despite the political and economic challenges faced, European inventors and companies increased their patent submissions last year, which reflects both their technological prowess and ongoing commitment to research and development. The EPO’s patent data serves as a strategic guide for industry, policymaking, and investment focuses. As highlighted by the Draghi and Letta reports, to remain competitive globally, Europe must enhance its innovation ecosystem and offer more support to inventors in developing and commercializing their innovations, particularly in critical sectors like green technologies, AI, and semiconductors.”
Computer technology has taken the lead
According to the report, the computer technology sector, which encompasses AI domains such as machine learning and pattern recognition, has risen to become the most prominent field, recording 16,815 patent applications in 2024.
The electrical machinery, apparatus, and energy sector experienced the most significant growth last year, with an increase of 8.9% compared to 2023. This growth was largely driven by advancements in clean energy technologies, including a remarkable 24.0% increase in battery innovations. Conversely, the digital communication sector, which includes mobile technology inventions, saw a decline of 6.3%.
Pharmaceuticals lead in Greece
Last year, the top technologies for European patent applications from Greece included:
- Pharmaceuticals
- Medical technology
- Handling technologies (including packaging)
- Materials/Metallurgy
- Engines/Pumps/Turbines
The top applicant from Greece was Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, highlighting the innovative spirit within the country’s academic institutions, followed by Bic Violex.
Diverse innovation sources: Major corporations are vital contributors
Samsung reclaimed its position as the leading applicant at the EPO in 2024, having last topped the list in 2020. Huawei dropped to the second position, followed by LG, Qualcomm, and RTX. Among the top ten applicants, four are based in Europe, two in South Korea, two in the USA, and one each from China and Japan.
Small enterprises harness the patent system for innovation
In 2024, 22% of patent applications to the EPO from Europe were submitted by individual inventors or small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), defined as companies with fewer than 250 employees. Additionally, 7% originated from universities and public research institutions. This underscores the patent system’s appeal to smaller entities, a trend further supported by EPO fee reductions introduced in April 2024 for micro-enterprises, individuals, non-profits, universities, and research organizations.
Trends in Europe and worldwide
The United States remained the top source of European patent applications, followed by Germany, Japan, China, and South Korea. EPO member states accounted for 43% of applications, while 57% came from non-European countries. Notably, South Korea saw the largest increase at 4.2%, China experienced a slight rise of 0.5%, whereas the USA and Japan recorded declines of 0.8% and 2.4%, respectively.
25% of patent applications feature a female inventor
In 2024, 25% of all European patent applications to the EPO included at least one female inventor. In Greece, this percentage was notably higher at 30%, surpassing the European average. Spain had the highest representation of female inventors in Europe at 42%, followed by Belgium at 32% and France at 31%.
The Unified Patent system exceeds expectations in its second year
Launched in 2023, the Unified Patent system is gaining traction, offering innovators streamlined and accessible patent protection across 18 EU member states with a single application to the EPO. In 2024, Unified Patent protection was sought for 25.6% of
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