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Filings at the European Patent Office continue to grow

Munich, 18 June 2007 -- In 2006, the European Patent Office (EPO) received a record total of around 207 300 patent applications , 5% up on the previous year (2005: 197 400). There was also a rise of 5%, from 128 000 to 135 200, in the number of new grant proceedings instituted before the EPO. The proportion of filings originating from the 32 member states of the European Patent Organisation fell by over 1%, from 49.6% to 48.5%.

Among European countries, Germany once again topped the table, with 24 900 applications (18.4% of the total), followed by France (8 010, 5.9%), and the Netherlands (7 400, 5%). Filings rose vis-à-vis 2005 in most countries, especially in Germany (+1 078),  but fell significantly in the Netherlands (-472).  

Among non-European countries, growth was marked in the USA (34 800 filings, +2 060) and Canada (1 950, +170). In Asia, significant increases were recorded by Japan (22 140, +680), Korea (4 595, +742) and China (720, +181)

In total, the EPO granted 62 780 patents (2005: 53 255, +17.9%). As in the previous year, most patents were granted to US firms, (14 834, +14%), followed by Germany (14 274, +14.3%) and Japan (12 044, +26.1%).

The companies filing the largest number of patent applications with the EPO in 2006 were Philips (4 425 applications), Samsung (2 355) and Siemens (2 319). These figures reflect the overall importance of the communications and information technology sector for the patent system. The ten largest applicants include four European companies (2005: 4), two from Korea and Japan (2005: 3) and, as in 2005, one from the USA. Only one company, BASF, came from a different technical field.

The top filers with the EPO in 2006  

Key technologies generate filings growth in 2006

Filing activity was particularly strong in medical technology (+6.8%), electronic communications (+3.8%) and electrical elements (basic components, semiconductors, chips, +5.9%). There was also considerable growth in organic chemistry and macromolecular compounds (inter alia: plastics, colourings and flavourings, +10.6%), in contrast to downward trends in biotechnology and engineering elements (-5.3%).

US filing behaviour shared this focus on medical technology but also showed strong activity in data processing and basic electrical elements. Japanese applicants were particularly active in automotive engineering and macromolecular compounds.

EU countries lead the field in high-tech applications

Around 23% of all patent applications filed with the EPO relate to subject-matter in high-tech areas as defined by the OECD: for example, aerospace technology and microelectronics. The largest proportion of these filings (36%) was accounted for by EU countries, followed by the USA (30%) and Japan (19%). High-tech filings from other regions rose from 11% to 13%.

For the current year, the EPO expects a further growth in patent applications by 5% to reach more than 220 000 filings in total and well over 140 000 new grant proceedings.

Further facts and figures can be found in the EPO's Annual Report for 2006.

For more information, contact:

Rainer Osterwalder
Press Department, European Patent Office
D-80298 Munich
Tel.: +49 89/2399-1820
Fax: +49 89/2399-2850
Mobile: +49 163/8399-527
rosterwalder@epo.org