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Current Statistical Data for Patents

At a glance

	2024	2025	Changes in %
Applications (patent applications with the DPMA and PCT patent applications after entering the national phase)	59,261	62,050	+ 4.7
Opened examination procedures	44,351	45,628	+ 2.9
Concluded examination procedures	45,263	45,839	+ 1.3
- published decisions to grant a patent	23,944	24,475	+ 2.2
Patents in force	153,657	158,848	+ 3.4

Patent applications

Year	Applications
2021	58,579
2022	57,213
2023	58,662
2024	59,261
2025	62,050

Companies and institutions with the most patent applications in 2025

Ranking	Applicant [1]	Seat	Applications
1	Robert Bosch GmbH	Germany	4,109
2	Mercedes-Benz Group AG	Germany	2,726
3	Bayerische Motoren Werke AG	Germany	2,553
4	AUDI AG	Germany	1,912
5	VOLKSWAGEN AG	Germany	1,627
6	Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG	Germany	1,437
7	Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG	Germany	1,338
8	GM Global Technology Operations LLC	USA	1,193
9	Ford Global Technologies, LLC	USA	859
10	ZF Friedrichshafen AG	Germany	697
[1] Proportional counting in the case of several applicants; without taking into account any business intra-group affiliations.

Patent applications by German Länder in 2025

German Länder	Applications	Percentage	Applications per 100,000 inhabitants
Baden-Württemberg	15,161	35.8	135
Bavaria	12,575	29.7	95
North Rhine-Westphalia	5,701	13.5	32
Lower Saxony	3,765	8.9	47
Hesse	1,114	2.6	18
Hamburg	684	1.6	37
Rhineland-Palatinate	673	1.6	16
Saxony	568	1.3	14
Thuringia	510	1.2	24
Berlin	462	1.1	13
Schleswig-Holstein	406	1.0	14
Brandenburg	217	0.5	8
Saxony-Anhalt	173	0.4	8
Bremen	120	0.3	17
Mecklenburg-Western Pommerania	111	0.3	7
Saarland	109	0.3	11
Germany	42,349	100	51

TOP 5 Fields of technology ^[1]

No.	Field of technology (sector)	Applications in 2024	Applications in 2025	Changes in %
32	Transport (mechanical engineering)	11,172	11,604	+ 3.9
1	Electrical machinery, apparatus, energy (electrical engineering)	8,285	8,908	+ 7.5
10	Measurement (instruments)	4,727	4,848	+ 2.6
6	Computer technology (electrical engineering)	3,316	3,679	+ 10.9
31	Mechanical elements (mechanical engineering)	3,417	3,298	- 3.5
[1] According to the WIPO IPC-Technology Concordance Table.

The Leading fields of technology ^[1] in the individual German Länder in 2025

GermanLänder	Nr.	Field of technology	Applications	Changes in % to 2024
Baden-Württemberg	32	Transport	3,345	- 4.2
	1	Electrical machinery, apparatus, energy	2,147	- 5.8
	10	Measurement	1,482	+ 0.7
Bavaria	32	Transport	3.212	+ 25.8
	1	Electrical machinery, apparatus, energy	1,905	+ 5.1
	10	Measurement	931	+ 17.3
Berlin	13	Medical technology	49	+ 6.5
	1	Electrical machinery, apparatus, energy	36	+ 38.5
	6	Computer technology	35	- 27.1
	32	Transport	35	- 7.9
Brandenburg	27	Engines, pumps, turbines	39	+ 30.0
	30	Thermal processes and apparatus	19	+ 375.0
	35	Civil engineering	15	+ 7.1
Bremen	10	Measurement	34	+ 13.3
	1	Electrical machinery, apparatus, energy	17	- 54.1
	32	Transport	14	+ 40.0
Hamburg	14	Organic fine chemistry	137	+ 149.1
	32	Transport	110	+ 25.0
	25	Handling	49	- 15.5
Hesse	13	Medical technology	132	+ 18.9
	10	Measurement	98	+ 3.2
	1	Electrical machinery, apparatus, energy	88	+ 8.6
Lower Saxony	32	Transport	1,059	+ 9.2
	1	Electrical machinery, apparatus, energy	577	+ 84.3
	10	Measurement	280	+ 7.3
Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania	6	Computer technology	14	−
	10	Measurement	13	+ 1,200.0
	1	Electrical machinery, apparatus, energy	12	+ 300.0
North Rhine-Westphalia	1	Electrical machinery, apparatus, energy	717	+ 11.7
	35	Civil engineering	520	- 8.0
	10	Measurement	435	+ 14.2
Rhineland-Palatinate	35	Civil engineering	92	+ 8.2
	32	Transport	89	+ 12.7
	31	Mechanical elements	43	- 15.7
Saarland	6	Computer technology	16	+ 433.3
	23	Chemical engineering	14	+ 55.6
	31	Mechanical elements	10	- 56.5
Saxony	1	Electrical machinery, apparatus, energy	55	- 23.6
	10	Measurement	53	+ 3.9
	6	Computer technology	39	+ 2.6
Saxony-Anhalt	8	Semiconductors	35	+ 118.8
	10	Measurement	19	+ 375.0
	6	Computer technology	12	+ 300.0
Schleswig-Holstein	13	Medical technology	45	+ 9.8
	10	Measurement	40	+ 48.1
	19	Basic materials chemistry	38	- 22.4
Thuringia	9	Optics	100	- 22.5
	13	Medical technology	81	- 13.8
	10	Measurement	64	+ 14.3
[1] According to the WIPO IPC-Technology Concordance Table.

Last updated: 25 February 2026