The number of global patent applications is breaking records. Where are the hotspots?

Having an inspiring business idea is one thing, but taking action to bring it to life is another. In 2021, a record number of intellectual property (IP) filings were made for patents, trademarks and designs to protect innovations.

Despite COVID-19’s impact on economies around the world, innovation has blossomed. The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) says 3.4 million patent applications were made in 2021, the highest annual total ever recorded.

Globally, applications for patents have increased from 1 million in 1995 to 2 million in 2010 and then 3 million in 2016.

Asia-Pacific countries accounted for more than two-thirds of global patent applications in 2021, led by China with almost 1.6 million. Japan had the third-highest total with more than 289,000 patent applications, followed by the Republic of Korea with around 237,000.

Outside Asia-Pacific, the US recorded the second-highest number with just over 590,000.

The global growth in patent filings has been driven largely by countries such as China and India, each recording a 5.5% year-on-year increase. In the Republic ofKorea, the number of applications was up 2.5%.

The thriving economies of Asia have seen substantial growth in their share of global patent filings over the past decade, up from 54.6% in 2011 to 67.5% in 2021.

Other regions have consequently seen their share of applications fall. North America dropped from a quarter of all applications in 2011 to 18.5% in 2021. Europe experienced a similar trend, falling from 15.5% to 10.5%.

The increase in worldwide filings led to 1.7 million patents being granted in 2021, which represents 10% annual growth – the highest for a decade.

Again, Asia saw the highest percentage of patents granted in 2021 with almost 64% of the worldwide total. The region is home to three of the top-five patient issuing authorities: China, Japan and the Republic of Korea.

China accounted for a 39.6% share of worldwide patents granted, followed by North America (19.9%) and Europe (11.8%).

As the global economy began to bounce back from the pandemic, other forms of IP filing grew faster than patents. Applications for trademarks rose by 5.5% in 2021, rising by 9.2% for industrial designs.

New and frontier technologies featured heavily in IP applications, as digitalization and smart technologies continue to impact global economies, helping create new markets and opportunities for ideas and development.

Global innovation is supported by initiatives like The World Economic Forum’s Global Innovators Community, which brings together the world’s most promising start-ups and scale-ups to advance ethical technology and business model innovation.

Companies invited to join the community can access platforms like UpLink, which cannects problem-solving innovators with the expertise and networks of the World Economic Forum.