While the overall number of patent applications from companies remained stable in 2024, those for medical technology and pharmaceuticals experienced a decline, according to the annual Patent Index published on Tuesday by the European Patent Office (EPO).
The EPO registered 199,264 patent applications last year, following three years of growth. Applications from Europe increased by 0.3%, while those from outside Europe fell slightly by 0.4%.
While the general picture seems promising, one sector is facing challenges: applications in the field of medical technology fell 3% from the previous year, totalling with 15,701 requests.
Medical technologies encompass medical instruments for diagnosing and treating diseases, including vaccination devices, prostheses and surgical robots.
The leading country in this field is the United States, accounting for 38.2% of applications. The Dutch company Royal Philips, with 594 applications, and America's Johnson & Johnson, with 564, were the top applicants.
The pharmaceutical sector also saw a decline, with registrations decreasing by 13.2%, bringing the total number of patents down to 8,359 in 2024.
In this sector, the leading country was again the US, with 37% of applications. However, this still represented a 16.9% decline from the previous year. In Europe, despite the overall decrease, the Netherlands submitted 6.5% more patent applications than in 2023.
Biotechnology, which includes peptides, microbiology, and genetic engineering, saw a 5.4% increase over the same period, reaching a total of 8,479 patents
Once again, the US led the sector, accounting for 36% of all applications. In Europe, Germany was the top contributor, representing nearly 10% of applications.
