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DPMA annual figures for 2024: considerable increase in patent applications from Germany

German Patent and Trade Mark Office saw more inventions of German companies and research institutions than in the previous year – automotive as the dominant industry in the patent ranking changed its filing behaviour – performance analysis shows: more concluded procedures across all IP rights

Press release of 12 March 2025

Munich. German companies and research institutions filed considerably more inventions with the German Patent and Trade Mark Office (DPMA) in 2024 than in the previous year. There were 40,064 domestic patent applications, i.e. an increase of 4% compared to 2023. The number of applications received from abroad was 19,196 (-4.8%). In total, patents were filed for 59,260 inventions – a slight increase of 1% compared to the previous year.

“It is a good sign that, despite the difficult economic situation, German companies are making large investments in research and development and are seeking to protect their innovations,” DPMA President Eva Schewior said, adding: “IP rights are of particular importance to our society. They are essential to the competitiveness of companies and promote growth and the prosperity of society. In addition, the patent system stimulates innovation and thus helps tackle social challenges.”

Concluded procedures: DPMA very productive in all IP areas

In 2024, the DPMA was very productive in all IP areas, as it concluded a total of 45,242 patent examination procedures (+6%). The large number of granted patents is a particularly pleasing development: in 2024, the DPMA granted protection for 23,944 inventions – a significant increase of 7.1% compared to the previous year. In 21,298 cases, no patent was granted – because the examiners refused the application, the applicants withdrew the application or due fees were not paid. As a result, the grant rate was 52.9%.

In the trade mark area, the DPMA concluded 74,889 procedures (+5.8%), 49,991 of which by registration of a trade mark in the register. As for designs, the office concluded 30,675 procedures (+3.1%), 28,024 of which by registration. It also concluded 9,921 utility model procedures; in 9,064 cases, this resulted in the registration of a utility model in the register.

Automotive industry: electric mobility and infotainment instead of internal combustion engine

In the patent area, the previous trends continued: the automotive industry remained the dominant sector. Like in the previous year, all of the top 10 companies in terms of applications were carmakers and suppliers – and they were the same ten companies as in 2023, albeit in a slightly different order. Furthermore, the top 10 companies, which accounted for almost one third of all patent applications filed, achieved an above-average increase in their applications compared to the previous year. With 4,496 applications, first place went to Robert Bosch GmbH, followed by Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (2,297) and Mercedes-Benz Group AG (2,138), which came in second and third, respectively.

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) combines certain technical classes in technology fields. It is only logical that the technology field “Transport”, where most applicants belong to the automotive sector, continued to account for most of the applications by far with the DPMA: 11,153 applications were received in this technology field – an increase of 4.8% compared to 2023.

The innovation drivers in the technology field “Transport” are electric mobility and the trend towards infotainment systems in vehicles. Class B60K, which includes, among other things, instrumentation and dashboards for vehicles, increased by 33.4%. For example, the development activity includes new displays and options to operate instruments in the driver’s cab by voice and gestures. The number of applications concerning electric mobility also continued its sharp rise: the technical class for the propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles (B60L) increased by 14.4%.

Battery technology is essential for electric mobility. Class H01M, which includes batteries and fuel cells, is part of the technology field “Electrical machinery, apparatus, energy” and, with 2,627 applications (+3.4%), was once again the strongest technical class at the DPMA. In this class, too, manufacturers and suppliers from the automotive industry are the most active applicants. However, companies from this sector are increasingly withdrawing from their innovative activity concerning internal combustion engines: in the technology field “Engines, pumps, turbines”, patents were filed for only 1,706 inventions, i.e. 5.9% fewer than in 2023 and only slightly more than one third of the applications received in this technology field in 2016 (5,144).

Mechanical engineering continued to be the strongest technology sector

WIPO categorises the technology fields in five technology sectors. In 2024, “Mechanical engineering”, with 23,765 applications, was once again the strongest sector at the DPMA, followed by the sectors “Electricity” (17,772) and “Instruments” (9,162). They were followed by the “Chemistry” sector (4,382) and the “Other fields” sector (3,897), which combines civil engineering, furniture, games and other consumer goods.

Baden-Württemberg extended its lead in the patent ranking of the German Länder

Every year, the DPMA also prepares a ranking of the German Länder. With 15,494 patent applications (+5.7%) and a large lead, Baden-Württemberg was first in this ranking. The German Land even increased its lead a bit over second-placed Bavaria (11,361 applications, +5%). Third place once again went to North Rhine-Westphalia, with 5,336 applications (-3.6%). If you compare the number of applications to the respective population, the ranking is slightly different. With 137 patent applications per 100,000 population, Baden-Württemberg was ahead of Bavaria (85) in this ranking, too. Third place, though, went to Lower Saxony (38). These are the German Länder where the big German carmakers are based. Remarkably, Thuringia came in fifth (25), maintaining its place ahead of all other eastern German Länder.

When it comes to trade mark applications, the German Länder mentioned above took the first three places as well, but in reverse order: North Rhine-Westphalia, with 21,568 applications, was far ahead of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, with 11,431 and 8,336 applications, respectively. If the respective population is considered, Hamburg took first place with 163 trade mark applications per 100,000 population, followed by Berlin (126) and North Rhine-Westphalia (119), which came in second and third, respectively.

If you apply for a trade mark, you must indicate classes of goods and services for which protection is sought. The filing trends in the trade mark area were as follows: the class most frequently requested by applicants was class 35 (“Advertising; business management, organization and administration; office functions”), which was indicated in 23,986 applications (-0.3%), followed by class 41 (“Education; providing of training; entertainment; sporting and cultural activities”), indicated in 19,284 applications (+5.3%), and class 9 (“Electronic apparatus and instruments; computer hardware; software; optical devices”), indicated in 15,025 applications (+6%).

With regard to design applications, the classes of goods at the top of the ranking were “Articles of clothing and haberdashery” (indicated in 4,415 applications, +14.7%), “Furnishing” (4,394, -1.7%) and “Graphic symbols and logos, surface patterns, ornamentation, arrangement of interiors and exteriors” (3,631, -3.4%).

Budget: DPMA increased its income

In 2024, the DPMA closed with a surplus of 228.4 million euros. The surplus was 5.5% higher than in the previous year and will benefit the federal budget. The income, almost entirely generated from fees, was 494.5 million euros (+2.6%). Expenditure amounted to 266.1 million euros and hardly changed compared to the previous year.

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.

Pictures: iStock.com/goir

Last updated: 12 March 2025