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.

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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

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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.

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Last updated: 16 April 2025