The 2018 EPO Annual Report shows a rise in the European applications of Spanish origin over the 6%

Fourth consecutive year of growth

As in previous years, the European Patent Office (EPO) has recently published an Annual Report to show the evolutionary trends on European Patent applications, the most active countries, the main technologies, the most remarkable companies...

If we analyse this report, at Spanish level the most highlighted datum is the increase of the European Patent applications of Spanish origin regarding 2017 by 6.3%, what means a sustained growth for four consecutive years. The 1,776 applications submitted by Spanish companies and research centres entail a new record. The important contribution made by public and private research centres in 2018 should be underlined: the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC, by its Spanish acronym) occupies the first place in the ranking of the largest European Patent applicants of Spanish origin, with 61 applications, followed by the Esteve Laboratory, with 33, the Foundation Tecnalia Research & Innovation, with 17, and the Autonomous University of Barcelona, also with 17. The sectors that lead these applications are: pharmaceutical, transport and biotechnological. By regions, Cataluña heads the list with the 33.5% of the total applications of Spanish origin followed by Comunidad de Madrid, with the 21.1%, and País Vasco, with the 12.5%.

If we study the global data, the report shows that the number of European Patent applications climbed by 4.6%, reaching 174,317 applications. Looking at the origin of the applications, the USA is still the most active country with the 25% of the total applications, followed by Germany, Japan, France and China. We should point out that almost the half of the applications came from European countries. By companies, Siemens was the company with a higher number of applications, followed by Huawei, Samsung, LG and United Technologies. Four of the top ten companies are from Europe, three from the USA, two from the Republic of Korea and one from China.

Although the trend is positive there is still a long way to go, but together we can do it.