The European Patent Office (EPO) received 199,264 patent applications in 2024, according to the Patent Index published on Sunday, marking only a 0.1% dip from the previous year and signaling strong innovation resilience amid global economic challenges, according to an EPO statement.
Applications from the 39 EPO member states rose slightly by 0.3%, while filings from non-European countries fell marginally by 0.4%. “Despite political and economic uncertainty, European inventors increased their patent activity, demonstrating continued investment in R&D and technological leadership,” said EPO President António Campinos.
Computer technology emerged as the top field of innovation, logging 16,815 applications, with AI-related areas like machine learning and pattern recognition driving the surge. The most significant growth came from electrical machinery and energy technologies, up 8.9%, powered by a 24% jump in battery-related inventions.
The United States remained the largest origin of patent applications, followed by Germany, Japan, China, and South Korea. While U.S. and Japanese filings dropped slightly, South Korea showed the strongest growth at 4.2%.
Samsung reclaimed the top spot among global applicants, ahead of Huawei, LG, Qualcomm, and RTX. The top ten included four European firms, two from South Korea, and one each from the U.S., China, and Japan.
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), individual inventors, and research institutions also made notable contributions. Around 22% of European filings came from SMEs and individuals, and 7% from universities and public research bodies. EPO’s recent fee reductions, effective from April 2024, aim to support these groups further.
The 2024 data reflects a dynamic innovation landscape where AI, sustainability, and clean energy continue to drive technological progress despite broader global instability.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
