China Tops the List for International Patent Applications
The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) has recently released data on international patent applications filed under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) in 2023. According to the data, there were a total of 272,600 international patent applications globally last year, representing a 1.8% decrease compared to 2022.
China Takes the Lead
China remains the country with the highest number of patent applications in the world, with 69,610 filings, although this represents a 0.6% decrease from the previous year. The United States follows closely behind with 55,678 patent applications, a decline of 5.3% from the previous year.
Other countries in the top five include Japan, South Korea, and Germany. South Korea is the only country among the top five to see an increase in international patent applications, rising by 1.2% to 22,288 filings. India experienced the largest growth, with a 44.6% increase in international patent applications, reaching a total of 3,791 filings.
Caption: Huawei’s main building in the manufacturing area near Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China. (Photo: Getty Images)
Leading Companies in Patent Applications
In terms of companies, Chinese technology giant Huawei filed the highest number of international patent applications worldwide, with 6,494 filings. Samsung from South Korea ranked second, followed by Qualcomm from the United States, Mitsubishi Electric from Japan, and BOE Technology from China.
Among the top 10 companies filing the most international patent applications, Chinese technology and battery manufacturer CATL made the most significant leap, jumping from 84th place to 8th place with 1,533 applications.
Key Technology Fields
In terms of technology fields, computer technology accounted for the largest proportion of international patent applications at 10.2%. This was followed by digital communication, electrical machinery, medical technology, and pharmaceuticals. These five fields combined made up approximately 40% of all PCT patent applications filed in 2023.
Daren Tang, the Director-General of WIPO, commented, “In an increasingly globalized and digitalized economy, the use of intellectual property rights is growing steadily and expanding globally alongside the economic development of countries worldwide. Asian countries currently account for 55.7% of international PCT patent applications filed through WIPO, compared to only 40.5% ten years ago.”
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