European Patent Filings Hit Record High, Surpassing 200,000 in 2025
The European Patent Office (EPO) has published its 2025 statistics on European patent applications (including direct and Euro-PCT filings). Applications rose by 1.4% year over year, reaching nearly 202,000.
By technology field, computer technology remains the leading area, with approximately 17,850 applications, led by Huawei, Samsung, and Microsoft. It is closely followed by digital communication, including mobile networks, with around 17,800 applications, where Huawei, Qualcomm, and Nokia rank as the top applicants. Electrical machinery, apparatus and energy ranks third, with roughly 17,000 applications, led by LG, Samsung, and CATL. Medical technology and transport complete the top five.
In terms of geographic origin, the United States accounts for 23.3% of total applications, followed by Germany (12.1%). China, at 10.9%, enters the top three for the first time, ahead of Japan (10.5%). South Korea holds fifth place with 7.1%, followed by France (5.4%) and Switzerland (4.9%). Finally, the Unitary Patent adoption rate continues to rise, reaching 28.7% of European patents granted in 2025, up from 25.6% in 2024.
By technology field, computer technology remains the leading area, with approximately 17,850 applications, led by Huawei, Samsung, and Microsoft. It is closely followed by digital communication, including mobile networks, with around 17,800 applications, where Huawei, Qualcomm, and Nokia rank as the top applicants. Electrical machinery, apparatus and energy ranks third, with roughly 17,000 applications, led by LG, Samsung, and CATL. Medical technology and transport complete the top five.
In terms of geographic origin, the United States accounts for 23.3% of total applications, followed by Germany (12.1%). China, at 10.9%, enters the top three for the first time, ahead of Japan (10.5%). South Korea holds fifth place with 7.1%, followed by France (5.4%) and Switzerland (4.9%). Finally, the Unitary Patent adoption rate continues to rise, reaching 28.7% of European patents granted in 2025, up from 25.6% in 2024.
