UK tops peers in EPO patent applications
25 Mar 2024
UK innovators their increased year on year European patent applications by a larger percentage than any of their leading continental peers during 2023.
The European Patent Office’s latest Patent Index Report records that UK applications jumped 4.2% to reach 5,918.
Three of the strongest performers, Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands also posted rises but by 1.4%, 2.7% and 3.5% respectively, while France’s applications actually fell 1.5%.
Jim Ribeiro, partner and patent attorney at European intellectual property firm Withers & Rogers, said:
“For the UK, the 4.2% increase in patent applications is a healthy sign that companies and other publicly funded research organisations and universities are active and generating innovative solutions for key demand-led markets.
“Over the past decade, the volume of patent applications made to the EPO by UK-based innovators has increased by 24.2%.”
Of the UK applicants, the five sectors best represented were were computer technology, medical technology, consumer goods, biotechnology and transport.
Unilever retained its dominant role as leading UK filer – its 575 patent applications representing a rise of 18.3% compared to its 2022 output. Other strong performers are Rolls-Royce, with 251 patent applications Linde (198 filings), BAE Systems (178 filings) and British Telecommunications (161 filings). However, the second place performer may have been unexpected in many quarters: British American Tobacco with 354 UK-derived applications.
Yet the statistics demonstrated once again the major role played by non-European states, with the greatest surge from South Korea which was up 21%. China too increased its applications by 8.8%.
For the UK though, said Ribeiro, the country’s performance would help emphasise its position as “a dynamic place for businesses and scientists to locate their R&D programmes”.
“The EPO’s data also reveals that more SMEs than ever before are filing patents, which means that they increasingly recognise the important role that patents play in attracting investment and furthering vital research and development activity,” he stated.
Pic: Sheffield AMRC
