European Patents In Medical Tech And Biotechnology Up

Medical technology was named as the field with the highest volume of patent applications received by the European Patent Office (EPO) in 2018, although life sciences was also singled out as a fast-growing area.

The latest figures from the EPO revealed that the number of patent filings across all sectors with the organisation increased by 4.6 per cent year-on-year.

Although medical technology accounted for the highest number of patent applications – a total of 13,795 – it was life sciences where the strongest growth was recorded. The life sciences area is split into pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, which together accounted for over 14,000 patent applications, a 13 per cent increase over 2017.

Within the pharmaceutical sector there was a 13.9 per cent rise, with 7,441 patent filings in this category, while biotechnology experienced a 12.1 per cent increase bringing the total number of patent applications in this field to 6,742 last year.

Digital technology was the second-largest area for patent applications, followed by computer technology; electrical machinery, apparatus and energy; and transport to complete the top five.

Although 47 per cent of all patent filings came from within the EU’s 38 member states, the US was the single country to make the most applications, accounting for 25 per cent of all patents filed last year with the EPO.

The Cambridge Network revealed that, within the UK, medical technology was also at the top of the list in terms of the country’s patent filings, with 417 patent applications in this area in 2018.

Pharmaceuticals only came in at sixth place on the list, but recorded an impressive 20.3 per cent lift over 2017.

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