March 2026 | Bulletin num.186 |
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The private sector leads innovation in the fight against climate change The Spanish Patent and Trademark Office (OEPM) has published a new report analyzing the evolution of climate change mitigation and adaptation technologies in Spain. The goal is to provide users within the innovation ecosystem with analytical tools that enable them to identify and anticipate trends to aid in strategic decision-making. The study ‘Climate Change 2026’ reveals that innovation activity in this sector has experienced notable growth in the most recent year for which records are available. Patent applications at the OEPM increased by 36.8% between 2023 and 2024, with a total of 219 applications. These figures indicate a positive trend since 2021, when 156 applications were filed. When comparing patent applications in this field to the total, it is observed that those related to climate change mitigation and adaptation technologies accounted for 17.4% in 2024. That is, nearly one-fifth of all patents applied for that year—the highest figure in the historical series. These data reaffirm the positive trend outlined above, as this percentage was only 12.8% in 2021.
Internationally, the trend in European patents with Spanish participation in this sector has experienced more pronounced ups and downs. However, the trend has also been positive since 2016. All these data reflect a growing interest on the part of the innovation ecosystem in developing technological solutions that contribute to the transition toward a more sustainable and less polluting economy. The study also analyzes the profile of invention applicants in this field. In Spain, companies clearly lead inventive activity, accounting for more than half of the applications (53%). They are followed by individual applicants with 30%, while public universities account for 12.2% of the total. Regarding European patents with Spanish participation, the percentage accounted for by companies is significantly higher, reaching 72.6% between 2018 and 2024. This pattern highlights the enormous importance of the private sector in driving the development of new technological solutions. The report also seeks to shed light on women’s participation in inventive activity within this sector. In 2024, the historic figure of 25.3% of female inventors was reached in this sector in our country. In other words, more than one in four inventors is a woman. This figure, the highest ever recorded, confirms the positive trend that has been underway since 2010, when this proportion was only 17.1%. However, despite the progress made in recent years, a gender gap in technological innovation persists, highlighting the need to continue promoting women’s participation in scientific and technological fields. This is particularly true across Europe as a whole, where the underrepresentation of women is most pronounced. Overall, the analysis shows that Spain is a country highly specialized in the development of technologies aimed at mitigating and adapting to climate change, particularly in the renewable energy sector. Our country is therefore in an advantageous position for the energy transition toward a sustainable, carbon-free model. Furthermore, Spain continues to be a global leader in gender equality, as it is one of the countries with the lowest rates of female underrepresentation in this and other areas of innovation.
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