Annual Report 2016

European patent filings

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Key figures 2016

Infographic 2016

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Total filings

Filings are a preliminary patent application activity indicating the potential interest of innovating businesses from all over the world in the European technology market. In 2016, European patent filings grew again (+6.2%), reaching a new high of more than 296 000.

Development of European patent filings over the last 5 years with regional breakdown
Development of European patent filings over the last 10 years with regional breakdown
Analysis based on the European patent filings (Direct European filings under the EPC and international filings under the PCT)
Statistics are based on the first-named applicant.
Figures are based on data from the EPO and WIPO (for PCT filings) as available on 27/01/2017. The PCT filings for 2016 are therefore estimates.
EPO: the 38 member states of the European Patent Organisation, including EU28.

Filing routes

The share of international filings under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) has increased over the past five years. In 2016, total filings at the EPO included more than 64 000 direct European filings under the European Patent Convention and around 231 500 international filings under the PCT.

Development of European patent filings over the last 5 years with breakdown between international fillings and direct European filings
Development of European patent filings over the last 10 years with breakdown between international fillings and direct European filings
Figures are based on data from the EPO and WIPO (for PCT filings) as available on 27/01/2017. The PCT filings for 2016 are therefore estimates.

European patent filings per country of origin

Around a third of the total filings in 2016 came from the EPO member states and two-thirds from outside Europe. The top five countries were again the US, Japan, China, Germany, and South Korea.

Share of European patent filings per country of origin in 2016 Analysis based on the European patent filings (Direct European filings under the EPC and international filings under the PCT).
Statistics are based on the first-named applicant.
Figures are based on data from the EPO and WIPO (for PCT filings) as available on 27/01/2017. The PCT filings for 2016 are therefore estimates.
Analysis based on the European patent filings (Direct European filings under the EPC and international filings under the PCT)
Statistics are based on the first-named applicant.
Figures are based on data from the EPO and WIPO (for PCT filings) as available on 27/01/2017. The PCT filings for 2016 are therefore estimates.
EPO: the 38 member states of the European Patent Organisation, including EU28.

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