EU Patent Applications Are Rising But Remain Concentrated

Key Takeaways

• EU patent applications to the European Patent Office increased from 51,508 in 2004 to 68,285 in 2024, indicating sustained growth in innovation activity.
• Patent filings in Europe remain high, supported by demand in technology-driven sectors such as computer technology and energy-related inventions, including batteries.
• Countries with larger industrial bases and higher research spending tend to generate more patent applications, as evidenced by the concentration of filings in Germany and France.
• Germany remains the largest source of European patent applications, with 25,033 filings in 2024.

Patent Applications to the European Patent Office

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Learn something new about Germany every week and make informed decisions with confidence.

To protect a new invention across Europe, companies can file a European patent application with the European Patent Office. This allows one application to be examined under a single European procedure rather than being filed separately with multiple national patent offices.

Patent applications to the European Patent Office increased across the EU from 51,508 in 2004 to 68,285 in 2024, a rise of about +32%.

EPO patent applications remained at a high level in 2024, with strong growth in technology areas such as computer technology and electrical machinery, apparatus, and energy, including AI-related inventions and battery technologies. At the same time, patent filings from the 27 EU member states declined slightly. 

Despite this, the overall European trend points to continued technological strength and investment in R&D across European companies and inventors.

Germany remains the largest source of patents

Germany remained the largest source of European patent applications among EU member states in 2024. It recorded 25,033 applications in 2024, far ahead of all other EU countries.

The next group is significantly smaller:

• France — 10,980
• Netherlands — 7,054
• Sweden — 4,936
• Italy — 4,853

This gap reflects differences in industrial structure and research and development intensity across countries. In general, larger economies with stronger research and development capacity generate more patent applications.

Germany fits this pattern. It has a large industrial base and especially high patenting intensity in automotive, machinery, chemicals, and related technology sectors.

France also remains one of Europe’s leading patenting countries. The country is backed by a strong research base and sustained activity in advanced technology areas such as AI.

Beyond the largest countries, patent applications are increasing across the EU.

• Spain — from 846 to 2,192
• Austria — from 1,000 to 2,146

This reflects wider participation in the European patent system, as more firms and institutions seek patent protection for new inventions.

However, the overall filing structure remains concentrated. Even after strong increases, these countries remain well below the largest patent-origin countries such as Germany and France.