Technology Intelligence Platform

The role of Europe in emerging technologies 

In the third instalment of our series on the Technology Intelligence Platform (TIP), we examine Europe's role in driving key technological advancements and analyse patenting activity within the European Patent Convention (EPC) contracting states. 

Key fields driving innovation 

Emerging fields such as computer technology, medical technology and digital communication are at the forefront of innovation. Given Europe’s robust patenting activity and research capabilities, EPC countries could play a vital role in advancing these technologies. Using TIP and the EPO’s extensive patent data sources, we conducted a detailed preliminary examination of the contributions made by various European countries and mapped their position within the global innovation ecosystem. 

Trends in EPC states 

We analysed patenting trends within EPC contracting states and identified the leading contributors in key technological domains. Our focus on international patent families (IPFs) - which represent high-value inventions protected across multiple jurisdictions - ensured a comprehensive and commercially relevant view of innovation. This approach revealed the countries leading patenting activity in emerging fields. 

Fig. 1: Visualisation of inventive activity in Europe 

Deeper analysis 

Moreover, we extended the analysis beyond Europe and compared EPC contracting states to other IP5 countries (United States, Japan, People’s Republic of China and Republic of Korea). The comparison showed Europe’s competitive position and its role in shaping global technological progress. 

While country-level patenting trends provide valuable insights, a more granular analysis can enhance our understanding of Europe’s strengths. Using the Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics (NUTS) data available in TIP, we explored regional innovation activity at a subnational level. This provided a deeper understanding of technological specialisation across different regions, enabling policy makers and industry stakeholders to identify innovation hubs and emerging clusters within Europe. 

Getting started with TIP 

As with the previous articles in this series, the notebook used for this analysis is available in the dedicated GitHub repository linked below. Users can replicate the analysis or adapt it for their own needs.  

Keywords: data processing, visualisation, patent data analysis