Top 10 technical fields
This page shows the number of European patent applications1 filed with the EPO for the ten technology fields2 with the largest number of applications in 2025. These top ten fields represented 57.5% of the total number of European applications filed in 2025. Each technology field has its own page providing an analysis of the geographic origin of the files. The geographic origin is based on the country of residence of the first applicant listed on the application form (first-named applicant principle3). The pages also rank the largest applicants4 in each field.
1
Computer technology
17 844
+6,1%
2
Digital communication
17 802
+11,4%
3
Electrical machinery
16 997
+5,3%
4
Medical technology
15 905
+1,3%
5
Transport
9 846
-1,8%
6
Measurement
9 487
-1,2%
7
Biotechnology
8 203
-3,3%
8
Pharmaceuticals
7 833
-6,3%
9
Other special machines
6 284
+0,4%
10
Organic fine chemistry
6 000
-1,5%
Source: EPO.
Status: 2.2.2026.
1 European patent applications include direct European applications and international (PCT) applications that entered the European phase during the reporting period.
2 The definition of the fields is based on the WIPO IPC technology concordance. The table is available at: http://www.wipo.int/export/sites/www/ipstats/en/statistics/patents/xls/ipc_technology.xls.
3 In cases where several applicants are mentioned on the application form, the country of residence of the first applicant listed applies.
4 This is the ranking in each technology field of the main consolidated applicants at the EPO in 2025. It is based on European patent applications filed with the EPO in each technology field. It includes direct European applications and international (PCT) applications that entered the European phase. Applications by identifiable subsidiaries, not necessarily located in the same country, are allocated to the consolidated applicants.