THE EUROPEAN PATENT OFFICE (EPO) ANNOUNCES THE TRENDS THAT MARKED 2024

The European Patent Office (EPO) has just released its Patent Index 2024, confirming that innovation across Europe and beyond remains vibrant and future-focused. Patent applications remained stable overall (-0.1% vs 2023), with filings from EPO member states even increasing by 0.3%. This resilience came despite geopolitical and economic uncertainties, highlighting strong R&D commitment across sectors.
– Computer technology led all technical fields for the first time, driven by advancements in AI and machine learning. Meanwhile, electrical machinery and clean energy tech surged ahead with an 8.9% growth—battery innovation alone soared by 24%!
– The US remained the top filing country, but notable growth came from R. Korea (+4.2%) and Switzerland (+3.2%). European SMEs and universities also boosted their role in innovation, filing nearly a third of all applications.
– Inclusivity is growing too: 1 in 4 European patent applications included a woman inventor.
– The Unitary Patent system continued its strong uptake, with a 53% increase in requests, simplifying protection across 18 EU countries. Over half of European SMEs and universities that received a patent opted in.
The data sends a clear message: Europe is staying competitive, and the EPO remains a central driver of innovation in crucial tech domains like AI, green energy, and semiconductors.
The presentation of the Patent Index 2024 can be find at the following link.

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