Spain has set a record in the filing of European patent applications during 2023, reaching a total of 2,111 requests to the European Patent Office (EPO). This achievement represents an increase of 6.9% compared to the previous year, placing the country among the European states with the most activity in the field of inventions, as reflected in the EPO’s Patent Index.
Sustained Growth in Innovation
This progress reflects a 43% growth in the number of European patents since 2014, indicating a continuous increase in Spain’s innovative capacity at an international level. Academic entities and public research centers have been fundamental in this advancement, with the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) leading with 80 applications. In the private sector, companies such as Amadeus, Multiverse Computing, and Telefónica have been particularly active, contributing significantly to the national innovation landscape.
The trend towards the biosciences sector is significant, encompassing the majority of applications, especially in the pharmaceutical area. Despite a comparative decrease from the previous year, sectors such as civil engineering and basic chemical materials have seen significant increases, indicating an expansion in the variety of research and development within Spain.
Progress Towards Gender Equality
A notable aspect is female participation in innovation, with almost 46% of the applications including at least one woman among the inventors, positioning Spain as a leader in gender equality in the technological field at a European level.
Boosting Innovation in SMEs and Regional Perspective
The EPO has highlighted the growing activity in research and development in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), showing a clear increase in their participation in the patent process. Catalonia, followed by Madrid and the Basque Country, remains the center of innovation in the country, contributing significantly to Spain’s recognition within the most innovative regions of Europe.
Therefore, work must continue from all public administrations and private companies to support Spanish innovation. It is essential that there is state and regional investment to promote the protection of all intellectual property assets, regardless of the territorial scope.