In 2024, Belgian companies, universities and research institutions submitted a record of 2,615 patent applications to the European Patent Office (EPO). This is again starting with growth, after a dip in 2023 with 2,547 patent applications from our country.
A total of 199,264 patent or patent applications were submitted during the EPO last year, a slight decrease (-0.1 percent) compared to the year before. For the first time, computer technology, including AI applications, was the most active field. “European innovation remains robust despite global economic uncertainties,” says the EPO itself. “The patent data is a clear route map for industry, policy and investment priorities.”
Belgium: Biotechnology, Pharmacy, Materials
So there was an increase for Belgium (+1.1 percent) in 2024. In ten years it is an increase of 28 percent. Worldwide our country accounts for 1.3 percent of all patent applications, good for a twelfth place.
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The three most important areas in Belgian applications were biotechnology, pharmacy and materials/metallurgy. A striking increase (+39.7 percent compared to 2023) was recorded in the latter category. Other sectors with remarkable growth rates were transport and special machines, such as 3D printing.
Most applications from our country come from Flanders (66 percent). The region is therefore in ninth place with the most patent applications in Europe. The strongest growth (+51 percent) was again for the Brussels Region.
Imec and women
Last year research institute IMEC was the largest Belgian applicant (203), followed by chemical company Syensqo and materials specialist Umicore. KU Leuven, Ghent University, University of Antwerp and the Vito research institution are also in the top ten.
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Another remarkable trend is the rise of female inventors. In Europe they are good for a quarter of all patent applications, in Belgium for almost one in three (32 percent). Only Spain (42 percent women) leads our country.