Status: 03/09/2023 09:26 am
The number of patent applications by German inventors from industry and research has fallen. On the other hand, the registrations of foreign companies are increasing. The growth in the case of China is particularly strong.
Significantly fewer patent applications came from Germany last year. As reported by the German Patent and Trademark Office (DPMA), the number of patents has stabilized somewhat overall after the significant downward trend during the corona pandemic. A total of 57,214 patent applications were received.
Almost a quarter more applications from China
According to the information, the number of domestic patent applications fell by 6.6 percent to 37,194 in 2022 compared to the previous year. However, it is remarkable that the more stable figures are mainly due to the registrations of foreign companies, according to the DPMA. 20,020 inventions and developments were registered for patents from abroad, 6.8 percent more than in 2021.
The USA, Japan and South Korea play an important role here. The number of patent applications from China has increased rapidly. They have increased by 23.6 percent, even if their absolute number is still comparatively low at 702. In absolute numbers, the USA is behind Germany in second place with 6847 applications, which is 16.2 percent more than in the previous year.
Fewer engineering and automobile patents
“The structural change in the innovation landscape is picking up speed. Digitization, automation and artificial intelligence as well as battery technology are playing an increasingly important role,” says DPMA President Eva Schewior. “In terms of the number of patent applications, this development is currently not exactly in favor of Germany.”
According to the DPMA, while inventions from the field of electrical engineering are increasing, the number of patent applications from mechanical engineering and the automotive industry, where German applicants are traditionally strong, is falling. Since 2016, the share of the electrical engineering sector in the total number of applications has increased from 21.7 to 29.0 percent. The share of mechanical engineering decreased from 46.4 to 40.6 percent in the same period.
Possible burner off has consequences
According to the DPMA data, within electrical engineering, the technology field “computer technology” grew particularly strongly last year with 19.5 percent. Among other things, developments that use artificial intelligence or machine learning have played a major role. The technology field “Electrical machines and devices, electrical energy”, which has a high number of applications, also continued to grow with a plus of 1.9 percent. Among other things, significantly more patent applications for batteries have been received.
According to the Patent Office, the foreseeable end of the internal combustion engine in automotive construction plays a major role in the lower innovative activity in mechanical engineering. Registrations in the “motors, pumps, turbines” sector fell by 17.9 percent.
Bosch Group is ahead
The majority of new patent applications are filed by companies, research institutions and individual inventors play a subordinate role. The largest customer at the DPMA is Robert Bosch GmbH with 3,946 applications, followed by BMW with 1,867. Within Germany, the south is far ahead of the north, with Baden-Württemberg in first place with 13,444 applications, followed by Bavaria with 10,548. An application does not automatically mean that the patent will also be granted.
Although patent fees are expensive, internationally active corporations often register new developments not only in their home country, but also in important foreign markets. Since Germany is the largest economy in the EU, the proportion of international patent applications at the DPMA is high.