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DPMA Annual Report 2023: Digital technologies still thriving

Current analysis: USA and China leading in digital innovations, Germany with a mixed performance – DPMA President: We have to continue to push the digital transformation – The DPMA Annual Report 2023 offers interesting statistical data, useful information and exciting stories

Press release of 5 June 2024
Munich. The innovation activity concerning digital technologies continues to accelerate: In fields of technology related to artificial intelligence and digital networking through mobile communications and in the semiconductor technology, the number of publications of patent applications with effect in Germany published in 2023 increased considerably compared to the previous year. The United States was leading in all technology fields considered. With respect to German applicants, the numbers are ambivalent. In some fields of technology, there was a significant increase in German applications, whereas Germany fell behind in other fields of technology. The current, as yet unpublished, analysis of the development of patent applications concerning digital technologies is part of the DPMA Annual Report 2023, which was published today by the German Patent and Trade Mark Office (DPMA).

"Germany is one of the most important innovation locations in the world. If we want to stand our ground, we should continue to push and shape the digital transformation of industry and society,” DPMA President Eva Schewior said. “The German research and innovation landscape,” she added, “is also highly productive in many digital technologies. We have to become even better at turning this potential into protected innovations, thus increasing the commercial viability.”"

In our analysis, we considered published patent applications with effect in Germany at the DPMA and at the European Patent Office, without double counting. Patent applications are published after 18 months. Accordingly, inventions newly filed in 2023 are not included. We examined the following fields of technology: digital communication, computer technology, audio-visual technology, semiconductors and IT methods for business management..

Artificial intelligence, mobile communications, virtual reality: USA and China leading

With 18,364 published patent applications (+12.2%), digital communication was the strongest field of technology. The United States led the ranking with 5,822 applications (+17.7%), ahead of China (5,231 applications, +14.2%), which was followed at a great distance by the Republic of Korea in third place (1,671 applications, +29.9%). In this field of technology, Germany, with 695 applications (-9.2%), only came in sixth place. Many applications concerning digital communication are related to the current 5G technology and future mobile communications standards and are thus important to the digital connectivity in a number of key technologies.

With 17,648 applications (+4.9%), computer technology was the second strongest sector. In this field of technology, too, the United States, with 6,421 applications (-4.7%), was followed by China – but at a great distance (2,645 applications, +15.5%). With 1,943 applications (+8.2%), Germany finished in third place. Computer technology includes, among other things, inventions relating to image data processing, speech recognition or information and communication technology. Many of these innovations use artificial intelligence or machine learning.

The semiconductors sector accounted for the third largest share of applications (5,946 applications, +8.6%). The United States (1,272 applications, +18%) was followed by Japan (1,177 applications, +9.2%) and the Republic of Korea (889 applications, +15%). Germany came in fifth with 587 applications (+0.2%). Semiconductor components are crucial for the processing and storage of data and thus for the continued digitisation.

The fourth largest number of applications was published in the audio-visual technology sector (5,744 applications, -3.8%). The United States led with 1,329 applications (-10.7%). In this technology field, too, China came in second place (1,203 applications, +3.4%), followed by Japan (852 applications, -11.6%). A considerable increase to 644 applications (+11.2%) helped Germany take fifth place. This technology field includes, among other things, inventions relating to virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR).

In the fifth strongest field of technology, IT methods for business management, there were 2,497 applications (-4.1%). The United States finished in first place with 920 applications (-5.7%), far ahead of Japan in second place (438 applications, +9.2%). Third place went to Germany (324 applications, -2.4%). In this field of technology, applications concern, for example, methods for services such as reservations and event bookings, for workflow control, for corporate or organisational planning or for materials or inventory management.

DPMA Annual Report: Rankings of the German Länder and applicants as well as helpful services

In addition to current technology trends in digitisation and renewable energy sources, the annual report once again contains a lot of statistics – e.g. the ranking of the German Länder for patent, utility model, trade mark and design applications and the rankings of the top companies in terms of applications. Furthermore, it contains useful information – e.g. on the free initial consultations for inventors – and interesting interviews, for example about the state of the German innovation system and about strategic challenges for the DPMA.

Published in HTML format, the DPMA Annual Report with its multimedia content is reader-friendly and optimised for mobile use. If you need the report for your records, a working version can soon be downloaded as a PDF file from its start page.

The German Patent and Trade Mark Office

Inventiveness and creativity need effective protection. The DPMA is the German centre of expertise for all intellectual property rights – patents, utility models, trade marks and designs. As the largest national patent office in Europe and the fifth largest national patent office in the world, our office stands for the future of Germany as a country of inventors in a globalised economy. Its staff of just under 2,800 at three locations – Munich, Jena and Berlin – provide services to inventors and companies. They implement federal innovation strategies and develop the national, European and international protection systems.

Last updated: 5 June 2024