Surging AI and battery expertise patents in addition to success for small companies and girls inventors — Europe’s newest patent knowledge paints a dynamic image of innovation.
The European Patent Workplace’s (EPO) Patent Index 2024, revealed this week, reveals that just about 200,000 patent functions had been filed final yr, proving that Europe’s inventors are pushing ahead regardless of financial uncertainty.
On the Euronews occasion, “Unlocking Europe’s potential: Competitiveness meets technological traits”, EPO’s Principal Director of Communication, Luis Berenguer Giménez launched key insights from the Index earlier than becoming a member of a high-level dialogue with European policymakers and enterprise consultants together with Member of the European Parliament (EPP), Adrián Vázquez Lázara.
With moderation from Euronews’ Romane Armangau, our panel examined how findings from the Index will help Europe navigate the evolving innovation panorama, strengthen its patent ecosystem and keep globally aggressive.
Patent knowledge: a well being verify on European innovation
The European Patent Workplace (EPO) holds Europe’s largest assortment of patent knowledge, and its annual Patent Index provides insights into how industries develop, which applied sciences are thriving and the place the following huge funding alternatives lie.
“The EPO’s patent knowledge is a transparent roadmap for trade, coverage, and funding priorities,” stated EPO President António Campinos in a press launch. “Because the Draghi and Letta stories warn, to remain aggressive globally, Europe should improve its innovation ecosystem and do extra to assist inventors scale up and commercialise their innovations, particularly in important areas equivalent to inexperienced applied sciences, AI and semiconductors.”
Past highlighting macro traits in trade and innovation, patent knowledge provides broader worth for Europe. “In addition to enabling safety, we will uncover details about which international locations are innovating, the businesses concerned, in addition to the names of their inventors,” Chair of BusinessEurope’s patents working group, Thierry Sueur, states. “This makes it simple to seek out attainable collaboration.”
Some European companies argue nevertheless that regulatory burdens proceed to impression innovation. “[The Commission] will not be sending the proper message to entrepreneurs and attainable patent creators,” MEP Lázara warns. “Between 2010 and 2020 there have been nearly 500 acquisitions of European startups by third nation firms. The compliance and bureaucratic burden is so nice that they like to promote earlier than reaching 50 workers. If we do not change this rapidly, this development goes to proceed.”
To maximise Europe’s enormous public funding in analysis and innovation, Ioannis Sagias, European Fee DG RTD, Deputy Head Of Unit Valorisation insurance policies and IPR provides that Europe wants to higher nurture improvements to maturity. “The concept will not be solely to enhance the analysis and innovation ecosystem but additionally to get nearer to researchers and assist them handle their mental property as early as attainable. We want to have the ability to preserve essential IP within the Union. Not just for sovereignty, but additionally for growing competitiveness and boosting European industries.”
AI-related innovation picks up tempo
In 2024, laptop expertise – together with areas of AI equivalent to machine studying and sample recognition – was the main area for the primary time, with 16 815 patent functions filed.
Robust development was additionally seen in areas together with electrical equipment, equipment and power (+8.9% on 2023), pushed by advances in clear power applied sciences, notably battery innovation (+24.0%). In the meantime, areas equivalent to digital communication and prescribed drugs, each noticed important decreases.
World patent traits: Europe maintains its place
In 2024, world patent functions remained steady (-0.1%), with 4 of the highest 5 patent submitting nations being non-European. The USA remained the main supply of filings, adopted by Germany, Japan and China. South Korea noticed the best development amongst main submitting nations (+4.2%) led by Samsung, which overtook Huawei because the EPO’s main patent applicant.
In response to Gilles Requena, Chief Patent Analysis and Coverage Officer on the EPO, this world curiosity highlights the attractiveness of the European market and provides insights into world trade traits.
Amongst these traits is the 240 per cent development of Chinese language patent functions, whereas South Korean functions elevated by 100 per cent. Somewhat than being a priority for Europe, Requena suggests we “take instance” of worldwide successes, equivalent to South Korea’s “glorious administration of mental property”.
In the meantime, mature markets such because the US, Japan and Europe made steadier will increase. Though no European companies ranked within the high 5 for the primary time, 9 had been among the many high 25 – an enchancment from the earlier yr. In 2024, Switzerland and the UK led Europe with a development price of round three per cent, whereas Germany and France additionally posted small positive aspects.
Small firms and girls inventors drive innovation
Whilst Europe navigates funding gaps and ability shortages, the Index reveals that the continent stays a frontrunner in startup innovation and university-led analysis. In 2024, practically 1 / 4 of European patents had been filed by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), particular person inventors and startups. One other 7 per cent had been submitted by universities and analysis establishments.
This achievement follows the implementation of the European Fee’s unitary patent system which aimed toward streamlining patent safety throughout 18 EU member states, lowering complexity and reducing the price of entry to help smaller gamers equivalent to micro-enterprises and non-profits. EPO charge reductions additionally supported this development, leading to 28,000 filed requests final yr; a 53 per cent rise from 2023.
“While you take a look at who’s utilizing this new unitary system,” Requena says, “the outcomes are extraordinarily constructive, displaying 50 per cent extra illustration of SMEs.” BusinessEurope’s Thierry Sueur additionally praised the brand new system’s simplicity, including: “With the unitary patent, you now have one patent to cowl 18 international locations. You have got one charge and, if you need to litigate, you’ll be able to go to 1 place.”
In the meantime, gender range in innovation is growing. One in 4 European patent functions featured at the least one girl inventor. Spain led amongst main submitting international locations with 42 per cent, adopted by Belgium (32%) and France (31%).
What’s subsequent for European innovation?
The EPO’s Patent Index serves as a key indicator of technological progress, serving to form funding and coverage choices. As Europe navigates the evolving innovation panorama, strengthening its patent ecosystem is crucial for staying aggressive.
Although there may be work to be carried out to hurry up innovation, enhance funding and get rid of development obstacles, efforts to streamline processes and improve entry are already positively impacting European trade, notably smaller gamers.
Moreover, broader efforts throughout the European Fee, equivalent to creation of the European Innovation Council (EIC) and ongoing funding for Horizon Europe analysis programme, are solidifying progress and help for European innovators to push new frontiers.
Learn the total Patent Index 2024 press launch on the EPO web site.
