Content
Current Statistical Data for Patents
At a glance
|
2023 |
2024 |
Changes in % |
| Applications (patent applications with the DPMA and PCT patent applications after entering the national phase) |
58,662 |
59,260 |
+ 1.0 |
| Opened examination procedures |
44,816 |
43,983 |
- 1.9 |
| Concluded examination procedures |
42,671 |
45,242 |
+ 6.0 |
| - published decisions to grant a patent |
22,363 |
23,944 |
+ 7.1 |
| Patents in force |
148,364 |
153,654 |
+ 3.6 |
Patent applications
| Year |
Applications |
| 2020 |
62,112 |
| 2021 |
58,577 |
| 2022 |
57,211 |
| 2023 |
58,662 |
| 2024 |
59,260 |
Companies and institutions with the most patent applications in 2024
| Ranking |
Applicant [1] |
Seat |
Applications |
| 1 |
Robert Bosch GmbH |
Germany |
4,496 |
| 2 |
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG |
Germany |
2,297 |
| 3 |
Mercedes-Benz Group AG |
Germany |
2,138 |
| 4 |
Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG |
Germany |
1,409 |
| 5 |
GM Global Technology Operations LLC |
USA |
1,299 |
| 6 |
ZF Friedrichshafen AG |
Germany |
1,175 |
| 7 |
VOLKSWAGEN AG |
Germany |
1,147 |
| 8 |
Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG |
Germany |
1,080 |
| 9 |
AUDI AG |
Germany |
1,058 |
| 10 |
Ford Global Technologies, LLC |
USA |
962 |
| [1] Proportional counting in the case of several applicants; without taking into account any business intra-group affiliations. |
Patent applications by German Länder in 2024
| German Länder |
Applications |
Percentage |
Applications per 100,000 inhabitants |
| Baden-Württemberg |
15,494 |
38.7 |
137 |
| Bavaria |
11,361 |
28.4 |
85 |
| North Rhine-Westphalia |
5,336 |
13.3 |
29 |
| Lower Saxony |
3,141 |
7.8 |
38 |
| Hesse |
1,043 |
2.6 |
16 |
| Rhineland-Palatinate |
681 |
1.7 |
16 |
| Saxony |
543 |
1.4 |
13 |
| Thuringia |
520 |
1.3 |
25 |
| Berlin |
468 |
1.2 |
12 |
| Hamburg |
440 |
1.1 |
23 |
| Schleswig-Holstein |
430 |
1.1 |
14 |
| Brandenburg |
202 |
0.5 |
8 |
| Bremen |
136 |
0.3 |
20 |
| Saarland |
113 |
0.3 |
11 |
| Saxony-Anhalt |
98 |
0.2 |
4 |
| Mecklenburg-Western Pommerania |
58 |
0.1 |
4 |
| Germany |
40,064 |
100 |
47 |
TOP 5 Fields of technology [1]
| No. |
Field of technology (sector) |
Applications in 2023 |
Applications in 2024 |
Changes in % |
| 32 |
Transport (mechanical engineering) |
10,639 |
11,153 |
+ 4.8 |
| 1 |
Electrical machinery, apparatus, energy (electrical engineering) |
8,068 |
8,248 |
+ 2.2 |
| 10 |
Measurement (instruments) |
4,443 |
4,712 |
+ 6.1 |
| 31 |
Mechanical elements (mechanical engineering) |
3,358 |
3,411 |
+ 1.6 |
| 6 |
Computer technology (electrical engineering) |
3,330 |
3,311 |
- 0.6 |
| [1] According to the WIPO IPC-Technology Concordance Table. |
The Leading fields of technology [1] in the individual German Länder in 2024
| GermanLänder |
Nr. |
Field of technology |
Applications |
Changes in % to 2023 |
| Baden-Württemberg |
32 |
Transport |
3,482 |
+ 6.5 |
| |
1 |
Electrical machinery, apparatus, energy |
2,273 |
0.0 |
| |
10 |
Measurement |
1,463 |
+ 10.2 |
| Bavaria |
32 |
Transport |
2,552 |
+ 10.3 |
| |
1 |
Electrical machinery, apparatus, energy |
1,807 |
+ 3.1 |
| |
10 |
Measurement |
792 |
+ 15.1 |
| Berlin |
6 |
Computer technology |
48 |
+ 29.7 |
| |
13 |
Medical technology |
46 |
+ 35.3 |
| |
10 |
Measurement |
40 |
+ 37.9 |
| Brandenburg |
27 |
Engines, pumps, turbines |
30 |
+ 100.0 |
| |
1 |
Electrical machinery, apparatus, energy |
29 |
+ 20.8 |
| |
35 |
Civil engineering |
14 |
+ 55.6 |
| Bremen |
1 |
Electrical machinery, apparatus, energy |
37 |
+ 94.7 |
| |
10 |
Measurement |
30 |
+ 50.0 |
| |
32 |
Transport |
10 |
- 41.2 |
| Hamburg |
32 |
Transport |
88 |
+ 137.8 |
| |
25 |
Handling |
58 |
- 1.7 |
| |
14 |
Organic fine chemistry |
55 |
+ 44.7 |
| Hesse |
31 |
Mechanical elements |
116 |
+ 30.3 |
| |
13 |
Medical technology |
111 |
+ 22.0 |
| |
10 |
Measurement |
95 |
+ 10.5 |
| Lower Saxony |
32 |
Transport |
970 |
+ 16.6 |
| |
1 |
Electrical machinery, apparatus, energy |
311 |
+ 33.5 |
| |
10 |
Measurement |
260 |
+ 36.8 |
| Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania |
35 |
Civil engineering |
11 |
+ 22.2 |
| |
29 |
Other special machines |
9 |
+ 12.5 |
| |
30 |
Thermal processes and apparatus |
5 |
0.0 |
| North Rhine-Westphalia |
1 |
Electrical machinery, apparatus, energy |
634 |
- 1.6 |
| |
35 |
Civil engineering |
567 |
+ 13.9 |
| |
32 |
Transport |
446 |
+ 14.7 |
| Rhineland-Palatinate |
35 |
Civil engineering |
85 |
+ 32.8 |
| |
32 |
Transport |
78 |
+ 44.4 |
| |
31 |
Mechanical elements |
51 |
- 10.5 |
| Saarland |
31 |
Mechanical elements |
23 |
+ 53.3 |
| |
24 |
Environmental technology |
13 |
+ 44.4 |
| |
1 |
Electrical machinery, apparatus, energy |
12 |
+ 20.0 |
| Saxony |
1 |
Electrical machinery, apparatus, energy |
71 |
+ 2.9 |
| |
10 |
Measurement |
51 |
- 5.6 |
| |
21 |
Surface technology, coating |
40 |
+ 25.0 |
| Saxony-Anhalt |
8 |
Semiconductors |
16 |
- 5.9 |
| |
35 |
Civil engineering |
13 |
+ 44.4 |
| |
13 |
Medical technology |
11 |
- 15.4 |
| Schleswig-Holstein |
19 |
Basic materials chemistry |
49 |
+ 88.5 |
| |
13 |
Medical technology |
41 |
+ 5.1 |
| |
35 |
Civil engineering |
31 |
+ 24.0 |
| Thuringia |
9 |
Optics |
129 |
+ 57.3 |
| |
13 |
Medical technology |
94 |
0.0 |
| |
10 |
Measurement |
55 |
+ 12.2 |
| [1] According to the WIPO IPC-Technology Concordance Table. |
Last updated: 1 March 2025
Not only protecting innovations
Social Media