Spain Records Europe’s biggest growth European patent applicationWith an increase of 44% since 2015. Data is an indication that there is a positive environment for this Development and scientific and technological progressHowever, Spain decided to get rid of the European unique patent system, which came into force in June 2023, with the excuse that Spanish was not selected to be selected for the protection requests of innovations to the Spanish. This linguistic nationalism has eagerly resolved in a relative success of the Spanish dual administrative system, by which European patents are accepted but freedom is maintained in this administrative field.
Data of European patent office (OEP) released on Tuesday, they indicate Catalunya that in 2024 led the regional ranking of patent applications with a total of 724. Barcelona ranks first of cities that have made more applications. OEPWith 331 records. Spanish companies and inventors submitted 2,192 European patent applications in 2024, 3% more than 2023. In Spain, more than half of (50.7% patent holders requested European unique patent, above the average of the European Union (37.3%). Freedom In the management of patents and inventions that the abandonment of Spain (with Croatia and Poland) has translated into more patent request activity.
According to a recent law firm report Perez LorakaSigned by Associates Joquin Rowira and Ireen Ortga, “being a contracted state of OEP, it can do any European patent given according to Spain as a head of a European patent to be effective in the area of Spain in Spain. When considering as an alternative jurisdiction for the integrated court, thus as an alternative jurisdiction”.
Benefits for Spain
The most common language translating patents in Europe is Spanish. According to Pérez Llorca experts, Spain is considered as an attractive jurisdiction to litigate European patents: “Not only special courts and legal services include lower cost compared to other European Union countries, but, with the arrival of the integrated court, the holders have to maintain a greatness for a strictly maintained, which has been elected to maintain a greatness. Jurisdiction can benefit from the new system and request the unit impact of its European patent, while, many national entrepreneurs – whose interest is only inherent in the national market – will be forced to be forced to the force of Spain, “for contradiction, unnecessarily.
R&D Aweg
In any case, Unique patent system Keep winning the impulse. For OEP president Antonio Campino, “Despite political and economic uncertainties, European companies and inventors requested more patents last year, reflecting their technical capacity and its continuous investment in R&D.” “To remain competitive worldwide, Europe must improve its innovation ecosystem and help inventors more so that they can improve and marketing their inventions, especially essential areas such as green technologies, artificial intelligence (AI) and semiconductor, called” Campino.
The most new catalonia
Katalunya maintained a firm position in innovation in 20224, capturing 18 numbers in European Union areas in European patent applications. Especially, area with the highest number in catalonia Patent request It was a pharmacist, followed by medical technology and biotechnology. In Madrid, the pharmaceutical area was also standing on the head, but the transport stood second, followed by biotechnology. Basque in the country, most applications came from machinery, equipment and power sector, transport in second place and civil engineering in third place. These figures reflect industrial and scientific specialties in each region, which highlight their strengths in different areas of innovation.
Main patent
Scientific Research (CSIC) for the High Council remains the main applicant for patent from Spain in OEP. In 2024, more than 100 applications were presented simultaneously with the most patent applications in universities and public research centers. Among private companies, Amaidius stood as a company with the highest number of applications, presented 43 applications for European patent, followed by Technia Research and Innovation Foundation (24) and telephone (21). Other outstanding companies are autotch engineering (21 applications), and two newcomers of the ranking, Madrid’s Horse Povertrain Solutions (19), which develops low emissions and hybrid systems and internal combuses of Ficosa Automotive Suppliers (17).
Pharmacy, most important
For Spain, Europe (221) was again a pharmacist with the most patent applications, with an increase of 11.6% compared to 2023. Medical technology and biotechnology in second place, each with a total of 163 requests, which reflects an annual growth of 14% and 8.7% respectively. The Biociencias region, which covers three mentioned regions, continues to represent approximately a quarter of all European patents from Spain.
Automotive
The transport sector, which includes automotive, recorded the largest year growth of Spanish inventions in 2024, with a growth of 30.7% compared to the previous year, ensured the fourth place with a total of 149 applications. On the other hand, machinery, equipment and power sector – including clean energy technologies such as battery inventions – have been occupied with fifth place with 134 patent applications, representing a 13%decrease.
World classification
The United States maintained its position as a native country of European patent applications, followed by the Republic of Germany, Japan, China and Korea. OEP member states represented 43% European applications in 2024, while 57% came from outside Europe. Spain ranks 15th, within the top 20.
The OEP “stunning” believes that Spain does not include unique patents in front of existing trade support
The European Patent Office considers the fact that the Spanish companies, especially SMEs, rely on the European unique patent and the Spanish government does not reconsider the facts of joining the single process. For OEP, the main disadvantage that does not join Spain is that the cost is potentially higher and involves more administrative complication. OEP spokesperson Luis Bearegier “said, despite additional costs, Spanish inventors and companies are betting on requesting unit patents. And this should reflect Spanish authorities.” The OEP has warned that Spanish companies have to get additional protection for the Spanish region in Spain or through a national patent valid with a national patent. “In the case of litigation, Spanish companies will have to do so in many courts to protect their patents, which means much more cost and again, more complexity, not to mention the fact that not being able to commit litigation in Spain, it will face legal representation costs in Spain and translations.” The annual rates to maintain unique patent for 10 years, which is the current average duration of a European patent, is about 5,000 euros.
On whether linguistic issues can be resolved, OEP believes that the languages of the unique patent system are similar to the 1973 European patents (German, French and English) and Spain confirmed without any problem in 1986. Also remember that 90% Spanish scientific publication is in English.
