Welcome to the Patent Index 2020


Teaser Image

2020: Strong growth in healthcare and life sciences

Patent filings at the EPO reflect the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on different technology fields. Sharp falls in some sectors have been countered by surges elsewhere, with medical technologies in the lead and major growth in both pharmaceuticals and biotechnology.

Play video

Insights 2020

Slider image - Expert analysis: patenting trends in 2020

Expert analysis: patenting trends in 2020

Slider image - Insight into healthcare and life sciences

Insight into healthcare and life sciences

Slider image - Insight into digital technologies

Insight into digital technologies


Demand for European patents stable

In 2020, the EPO received 180 250 applications, just 0.7% down on 2019 despite the pandemic. However, this conceals contrasting trends, with falls in demand for patent applications from some countries and in some technologies offset by growth elsewhere. The picture is complex and deserves closer inspection. One thing is certain: the economic impact of the coronavirus is only beginning to be seen through patent filings.

See more details

Top applicants

The 2020 ranking reflects continued growth in demand for European patents from China and South Korea. Samsung tops the table, ahead of Huawei, which led the ranking in 2019, and LG in third place. The top 10 includes five companies from Europe (the highest number since 2014), two from South Korea, and one from China, Japan and the US respectively.

See more details

Top technology fields

As the digital transformation of the economy accelerates, Europe remains a robust technology market. Having soared in 2019, digital communication and computer technology made more modest gains last year. Medical technology returned to top spot (+2.6%), while pharmaceuticals and biotechnology surged, up +10.2% and +6.3% respectively. In 2020, the top ten fields accounted for almost 55% of all European patent applications.

+
0
.
0
%
Medical technology
0
.
0
%
Digital communication
0
.
0
%
Computer technology
See more details

Geographic origin of applications

Europe maintained its share of nearly half of all patent applications. There was an increase in filings from companies in Finland (+11.1%), France (+3.1%) and Italy (+2.9%). Amongst the other countries which filed over 1000 applications, many showed a decline in filings from their native companies, including a fall from Germany (-3.0%) which nevertheless still accounted for 14% of all filings. From outside Europe, US firms filed less than the previous year (-4.1%) but maintained their share of a quarter of all applications, followed by companies from Japan (-1.1%). The major countries that saw the greatest growth in absolute numbers in 2020 were China (+9.9%) and South Korea (+9.2%).

See more details

More statistics for download

Data on the last 10 years and country specific profiles.

Teaser Image Footer

EPO at a glance

As the Patent Office for Europe, we support innovation, competitiveness and economic growth across Europe through a commitment to high quality and efficient services delivered under the European Patent Convention.

Quick Navigation